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A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE 



“ Auntie Grace sat out on the shady porch, sewing and watching.” See page i8. 
Frontispiece, 


A MERRY LITTLE 

VISIT WITH AUNTIE 


C5V> ^ 

MARY D. BRINE 

.1 

AUTHOR OF “SUNNY HOURS,” ETC., ETC. 




AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY 

150 Nassau St., New York 


r/7 


45389 


LibrMr y of Cunot***! 

C0f<£^ KfCEifCO 

SEP 10 1900 

UfyncM«*y 

S£C0W COPT. 

Ot^M«c««d to 

OKOCtinvSION, 

SEP 12 1900 


V\si- 


DcDicatton. 


LOVINGLY DEDICATED TO ALL MY DEAR LITTLE 
FRIENDS AND READERS. 

MARY D. BRINE. 


74559 


' / 



Copyright, 1900, 

By AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY. 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER . PAGE 

I. Starting off on the Visit, 7 

II. The Journey, . ii 

III. The Drive from the Station 18 

IV. The Arrival, 24 

V. Gracie and Benny Get Acquainted. 31 

VI. The Trunk Arrives, 34 

VII. Gracie Makes a New Friend, 37 

VIII. The Old Gentleman, 45 

IX. The Invitation, 52 

X. Off to See Granny, 56 

XI. The Barn Frolic, 63 

XII. The Return, 72 

XIII. Gracie’s Gifts, 80 

XIV. “Good-By! Good-By!” 88 

XV. Home Again ! 93 


► 

i 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


“Auntie Grace/’ 

Gracie on the Window Seat, 

“ Little Lambs at Play,” .... 
Benny and the Quail, .... 

“ ‘ Up Now ! ’” 

“‘Oh, Chicky! Shoo! Shoo!”’ 

He Seemed to be Thinking, 

“ Home from the Pasture,” 

In the Meadow, 

“Granny Sat Knitting and Thinking,” 
“Oh, Let Me Help Harness up!” 

The Barn Frolic, 

“‘Tired, so Tired, Poor Baby!’” 
Wheeling the Baby, 

Gracie Walked down the Shady Path, 
Sally and Her Mother Were Watching, 


Frontispiece 
. Page 8 
“ 12 
“ 22 

“ 39 

42 
“ 46 

“ 48 

“ 54 

“ 57 

“ 64 

“ 67 

“ 70 

“ 79 

“ 84 

“ 91 


A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 


CHAPTER I. 


STARTING OFF ON THE VISIT. 


^^IPSTAIRS in a dear little bedroom of a certain 
jsj H city house a sweet-faced mamma was packing a 
^^9 tiny trunk with some simple, dainty clothing. 
The clothing belonged to a dear little girl named Grade 
Moore, and she was going to make a merry little visit 
to her “very dearest Auntie Grace,” for whom she had 
been named just seven years ago. 

The little trunk was almost quite ready to be locked 
and strapped, and it would soon be time to go to the 
train. While Mamma was putting in a few last belong- 
ings, — which she thought her young daughter might 
need in the country village where Auntie Grace lived, — 
little Grade, perched, with dolly in her arms, on the 
broad window seat, awaited the summons to get her 
hat on, and make ready for the start from home. 

“ We’re going to have the bestest time that can be, 
dolly,” she said, giving her pretty wax doll an extra 
squeeze and producing (because of a hidden arrange- 
ment about the doll’s throat) a funny little squeak which 


8 


A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 



Grade imagined to be a cry, a laugh, a speech, or a 
cough, according to the necessity for either. 

This time it was supposed to be a laugh, for dolly, of 
course, was as glad to be starting off on a visit as her 

little mistress was, 
and so there were 
several squeaks 
in succession as 
Gracie talked to 
her doll there on 
the window seat. 
Doll Angelina 
had been a pres- 
ent to little Grace 
from big Grace, 

and that was why 
the little niece 
loved it so. She 
was going to take 
it with her, be- 
cause she thought 

it would please 

Auntie Grace to 
see how well she 
had taken care 
of the dolly, and 
because, in case 
know — she should be lonely, 

great comfort to her. Presently 


“ Little Gracie, perched with dolly on the broad window 
seat, awaited the summons to get her hat on.” Page 7. 


— -just in case, you 
Angelina would be a 


A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 


Mamma shut down the lid of the little trunk and locked 
it, and then the strap was securely buckled about it and 
the tag with Gracie’s name and destination attached to 
the handle. 

“ Now, little girlie,” said Mamma, “ we must get our 
hats on, for the carriage will be here in a moment. I 
don't know what I shall do without my little Grade for 
two whole weeks, but I'm sure she will be having a 
splendid time, and will come home with such a brown 
little face I shan't be sure it belongs to Grade.” 

Grade sighed, — a very unusual thing for her to do, — 
and, jumping down from her seat, crossed the room and 
slipped her hand into her mother's hand. Her little face 
had suddenly grown grave, and she said in a plaintive 
voice, as unusual to her as the sigh had been : 

“ Mamma, dear. I’m beginning to be ’fraid, I truly am.” 

“ Why, Grade ! ” exclaimed Mamma, “ how long has 
that notion been threatening you ? What is there to be 
afraid of in a merry little visit to Auntie?” 

Gracie hung her head. “ Well, you see — you see. 
Mamma dear, it ’ll be so lonely going on the cars all by 
my own self, and — oh, dear ! the cars might tumble over 
and hurt everybody in them, and — if the cars didn’t do 
that — anyway I might get lost, and — I’m truly ’fraid. 
Mamma. I guess I’d just better go and see Auntie some 
other time ; can’t I, Mamma ?” 

Mamma looked at the little trunk, all packed and 
ready for its journey, and then at her little white-cheeked 
girl, and then, lifting Gracie on her lap, she answered ; 


10 A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 

“Now, darling, you know that I shall miss you, and 
want you every hour of the day, and that it is because 
your going away is for your own good that I am will- 
ing to let you go. Think how sick you have been, and 
how you have lost the roses out of your little cheeks, 
and how much you need this little change of air and 
scene ; and remember what the doctor said about it. But 
most of all, remember the dear yesus to whom you 
say your little prayer every night and morning. Don’t 
you think you are as safe in His care when traveling 
as when playing about your own home here ? Why, 
Gracie, have you forgotten that wherever we go, God is 
always with us, and that we ought to feel as safe and 
confident of his care as though we could see Him and 
take hold of His hand in very reality? Mamma has 
prayed that her little girl may have a safe journey, and 
you must not be afraid any more. I want you to get 
well and strong — and I’m sure you will — and you and 
I will say a prayer for each other every night and morn- 
ing, darling, and then, of course, we won’t be afraid 
of anything. Now come, for I hear the carriage at 
last.’’ 

Gracie put her fears all away, and felt ashamed of her- 
self for having forgotten even for a moment that Jesus 
would be watching over her all through her journey ; 
and in a trice her little coat and pretty hat were on, 
while the trunk was carried downstairs, where good nurse 
Bridget was waiting for “one last good-by from the 
darlint.” 


CHAPTER II. 


THE JOURNEY. 


IITTLE Grade trembled a good deal when 
Mamma had at last lifted her into her car and 
put her in charge of the conductor of the train, 
and with many loving kisses had bidden her good-by 
and watched the train roll out of the depot; yet she 
soon winked the tears out of sight, and, holding Ange- 
lina very tightly in her arms, found courage to look 
about her and at her fellow-passengers. The conductor 
was a very nice man, and having a little girl of his 
own at home, of course he took a great interest in 
Gracie, and had promised to take the best care of her 
and see that she was delivered safely into her auntie’s 
hands when the train should arrive at Milton station, 
where Auntie was to meet her. It would only be a train 
ride of about three hours, and no change of cars on the 
way, so you see little niece Gracie was as safe as though 
she had been one of the “ grown-ups,” and with Angelina 
for company in her comfortable seat in the parlor car, 
where the kind conductor had placed her, she made 
up her mind that she would not be a baby and cry, 
“ even though her throat did feel so lumpy and bump- 
ity,” but would amuse herself as the big passengers did, 
only she wished she had a paper with pictures in it, as 


12 


A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 



the old man in front of her had. There was one very 
funny picture on the page he was looking at, and if she 
stood up just a minute she could see it. After thinking 
it over a few moments she decided to do so, but she 
had a little feeling in her heart that it wouldn’t be quite 

polite to look over 
anybody’s shoul- 
der; so just after 
she stood up she 
sat down again, 
and then the man 
turned the page 
of his periodical, 
and she couldn't 
see it anyway. 

The cars sped 
on and on, and 
Gracie finally wea- 
. ried of looking out 
upon the flying 
houses and trees, 
and all the out- 
side scenes which 
seemed to dash 


‘Little lambs at play.” Page 13. 


by the car windows in one perplexing mass of green and 
white. 


She was glad when after a time the train stopped at 
a little country station, and she could look at the scenes 
about her window with more comfort. She liked to see 


A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 


13 


the people on the platform, some of whom were coming 
aboard the train, while others who had gotten off the 
train were looking for their baggage busily; and there 
were some who were only loungers there — men and boys 
and girls who liked to see the train come in, and stood 
about “ busy doing nothing',' as the conductor laughingly 
remarked to the brakeman. She saw in a field nearby 
some little lambs at play. They seemed to be quite 
alone, with no mamma-sheep at hand, and Gracie decided 
that, like her mother’s little lamb, they were out on a visit 
all by themselves, and were trying to be as happy as 
they could, away from the ones they loved best of all. 

But the noise of the escaping steam must have fright- 
ened them, for they stopped nibbling grass, and lifted 
their woolly heads anxiously, and seemed undecided 
whether to run or stay and watch the big black thing 
that puffed out smoke and steam so fiercely. 

Just as the train began to move again, Gracie remem- 
bered a little rhyme Mamma had taught her when she was 
too little to read it herself. So she leaned back in her 
seat and said it over softly to herself, and to Angelina, of 
course, who was still in her arms and still staring at 
nothing. The rhyme ran this way : 

THREE LITTLE LAMBS. 

Three little lambs in the meadow at play, 

All in the shine of the bright, happy day! 

Little white lammies, so merry and free. 

Just like a bit of a girlie like me. 


14 A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 

/ am a dear little lamb ; that I know ! 

And Jesus ’s the shepherd who’s loving me so ! 

And nothing can hurt me by night or by day, 

For Jesus is with me, wherever I stray. 

Grade said this over correctly, and then she sang it 
in her mind, keeping time with the “ choo-choo ” sound 
of the train. But after a while she grew restless, and a 
loud yawn suddenly escaped her. Then the old gentle- 
man in front turned around. 

“ What’s the trouble, little girl ? Tired out ? ” 

“ Oh, please excuse me, sir,” she said. “ I didn’t know 
I was going to do it, and disturb you.” 

The old gentleman laughed. “Guess you didn’t do 
much disturbing, you mite of a child, you.” He turned 
about in his chair so that he could the more readily 
look at Grade. “ Got tired of looking at nothing, didn’t 
you ? What were you wondering about ? Come ! I’m 
wondering what you were wondering.” 

Gracie laughed. “ Oh, / was only just wondering 
what my dear mamma was doing now ’thout any little 
Gracie round the house. That’s all, sir. ’Twasn’t much, 
but I felt sort of — sort of” — the little voice trembled, 
and Gracie swallowed a small lump which suddenly 
seemed sticking in her throat. 

“ There, dearie, don’t feel badly,” said the old man, 
as he leaned forward and put some picture papers in her 
lap. “See — here are such a lot of funny pictures! 
they’ll almost make that young lady on the seat beside 
you there laugh out aloud with you.” 


A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 


15 


Gracie gave a little giggle, for the old gentleman was 
so jolly in his manner she forgot the lump she was 
trying to swallow. She was so glad to have the pic- 
tures to look at, and thanked her new friend so pret- 
tily that he thought her one of the nicest children he 
had ever seen. 

“ How is it, my dear, that you are traveling alone and 
obliged to leave your mother ? ” he asked. 

“ Well, you see, I was pretty sick with a cold a little 
while ago, and the doctor made me stay in bed a long 
while, and I got so tired and weak that I was pale, and 
Mamma said I looked like a little white flower. She 
told my Auntie Grace about it, and then Auntie Grace 
said I must come up and stay with her a little while. 
But I couldn’t go then ’cause I was too tired to leave 
Mamma, and so I waited till I was real well, just as I 
am now ; and then Auntie wrote again, and said 1 must 
come up and be ‘topped off,’ — ^you know that means 
finished up well and strong — Mamma said Auntie meant 
that, — and so I’m going to Milton to-day, sir; but 
Mamma wouldn’t go ’cause she didn’t have time.” 

“ And so there’s no one to take care of you, eh ? ” 
the old gentleman remarked. ‘‘ Never mind ; I’ll ” 

“ Oh, yes, sir,” replied Gracie; “Jesus is taking care of 
me, and I’m very safe. ’Sides, Mamma put me in charge 
of the conductor, and he’s going to put me in Auntie’s 
care.” 

“And who’s Auntie? I live in Milton, too.” 

“ Oh, I’m so glad,” cried Gracie, “ that you live in 


16 A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 

Milton ! Auntie’s name is Auntie Gracie Grey. Do you 
know her ? ” 

He shook his head. “ No ; I’ve only lived there a 
little while. I bought an old farmhouse at the extreme 
end of the village, and I don’t know many people yet. 
Never mind ; maybe I’ll meet you, little Blue Eyes, 
some fine day. I love little children, and I’m going 
to get acquainted with all I find around my way in 
Milton.” 

Then he told Gracie to look at her pictures, and he 
would take a little nap; and he glanced at the smiling, 
placid Angelina, and, with many a twinkle in his eyes, 
told that waxen young girl to “be sure and not laugh 
too loud over Grade’s pictures — and wake him up ” ; 
which funny speech — “just as if Angelina had been a 
live, real child ” — made Gracie giggle again, and very 
soon she forgot all about being homesick, and amused 
herself with the pictures and with reading the easy 
words, as little seven-year-olders do, you know, and then 
— why, how soon it seemed ? — the train gave a whistle, 
and began to go more slowly, and then slid softly and 
smoothly alongside of a broad platform. The brake- 
man and conductor from each end of the car shouted 
“ Mil — ton ! ” and the old gentleman in front of Gracie 
grabbed his big traveling bag and his cane, and said to 
Gracie, “ Here we are ! ” 

The car stopped, and immediately the kind con- 
ductor came along and took Grade’s hand in his, while 
she held Angelina close in her other arm, and in a 


A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 17 

minute or two the little girl was standing on the plat- 
form, looking around at the crowd of people and keep- 
ing close beside her little trunk, which the porter had 
taken from the train. The nice conductor had gone 
back to the train, but he had spoken to the depot- 
master about her, and left her in good care. So Gracie 
waited and wondered and watched anxiously for Auntie, 
and was just ready to cry with fear and disappointment, 
when the baggage-master came to her, saying: 

“ Little miss, if you’re bound for Miss Grey’s house — 
here’s her woman asking for you. Miss Grey didn’t come, 
but you’re all right, just the same.” 

Then he took her out to the little phaeton, where a 
neat and good-natured maid was seated, holding the 
reins and trying to keep a restless little pony quiet. 

She quickly explained that Auntie Grace had had a 
caller on some very important matter just as she was 
about to start for the station to meet her little niece, and 
therefore she had been obliged to send Ann — the maid — 
in her place. Gracie politely said “ it didn’t matter,” but 
in her heart she felt as though her visit hadn’t begun 
very nicely, for the joy of meeting Auntie at the depot 
had been a great anticipation for our small traveler. 


CHAPTER III. 


THE DRIVE FROM THE STATION. 

UNTIE GRACE sat out on the shady porch, 
sewing and watching. I think she really did 
more watching than sewing, if the exact truth 
were told, for she was expecting every moment to see 
the little pony phaeton turning the bend of the road 
down by “Willow brook,” and she intended to go 
to the gate and wave her white piece of work with 
might and main the very moment the phaeton should 
appear. 

Auntie Grace had felt very badly when she found that 
she could not go herself to meet her dear little niece. 
It had happened so unfortunately, she thought, that her 
friend should have called just as she was ready to start 
for the station. But — as Ann had explained — the call 
was an important one, and there was no help for it, so 
Auntie had shared the disappointment with Gracie, 
and, ever since her visitor had gone, had devoted her 
thoughts to the little visitor, who by that time was well 
on the way, and chatting with Ann as merrily as her 
disappointment would let her. Ann had told her about 
the new kittens in the stable, and about the poor 
motherly hen who had hatched out — not a brood of 



A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 


19 


little chickens, but a nestful of little ducklings ; and 
when they persisted in running to the big pool and pad- 
dling in the water, because that was the most natural 
thing for little duckies to do, the poor anxious old hen 
didn’t know what to make of it, and squawked and 
clucked herself out of breath to call her children out of 
danger. Grade laughed very heartily at that, and Ann 
was so pleased at the result of her efforts that she 
thought of some more funny things to tell, and so 
shorten the rather long drive home. 

“ Let me see ! ” she said. “ Oh, yes — I must tell you 
what Benny did to the cat the other day.” 

“ Who’s Benny ? ” asked Gracie rather anxiously. She 
was just a wee bit afraid of boys, because she had been 
teased by one once, and made very miserable by his 
throwing Angelina to another boy and making a ball- 
tossing frolic out of the smiling waxen young lady. 
“Where does he live?” 

“ Oh,” said Ann, “ he’s only a little boy. Why, I don’t 
believe he’s any older than you, and he lives quite near 
your Auntie. He’s a nice, quiet boy, and he’s glad 
you’re coming, — your Auntie told him, you know, — and 
he said he hoped you’d play with him sometimes.” 

“ I’m ’fraid of boys,” replied Gracie, “ ’cause they’re 
teasers, you know, and — and — they mostly aren’t good to 
little girls’ dollies either.” 

Ann laughed. “ Oh dear, that is too bad ! but Benny 
isn’t that kind. Miss Gracie. Oh, no; he’s a quiet boy, 
and he lives with his grandma in a little bit of 


20 A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 

a house, and helps her all he can, like a good little 
boy.” 

“Is she sick?” asked Gracie, becoming interested in 
Benny’s affairs. 

“ Oh, no ; but she hasn’t much money, and Benny 
likes to do errands for people, when there’s any errand 
a little chap can do, and he earns some pennies in 
that way, and puts them all in a little tin box which 
he says is his grandma’s bank, and she lets him do it 
because she says it makes him feel more like a little 
man and adds a great deal to his pleasure; though of 
course she isn’t so poor but what they live very com- 
fortably in their plain way.” 

“ I think Benny won’t be a teaser, and I’m going to 
like him,” said Gracie, shaking her golden head up and 
down for emphasis of her decision. “ But — what did he 
do to the cat ? ” 

“ Oh, yes, I forgot that,” said Ann. “ Go ’long, Dob- 
bin! we’re in a hurry, you must know,” shaking the 
reins as she spoke. Then she settled back in the seat 
and began : “ Well, Benny has a dog, you know, and he 
likes to teach it tricks, and you’d be surprised if you 
could see how smart that dog really is. Well — our cat 
and Ben’s dog are good friends. That’s funny, isn’t it? 
— because cats and dogs usually don’t agree. But some- 
how Fido the dog and Blackie the cat made friends long 
ago, and they visit each other like real good friends. 
One day Benny saw a circus, and he saw a dog trotting 
around with a monkey on its back, so he said he guessed 


A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 


21 


our cat was as good at a trick as a monkey, and he 
knew his dog could do any trick he wanted to teach 
it; and what did he do one day but tie kitty on Fido’s 
back and make ’em ride around the yard a number of 
times. Of course Fido didn’t care, but Blackie did, and 
she mewed, and spit, and clawed Fido’s thick hair; but 
she couldn’t get off, and every few moments Benny 
would stop them and pet them both and give them 
some nice little treat to eat, and then start them off 
again around the yard ; and, do you know, that cat got 
so that she liked it, and was as good as a lamb after 
that. And one day what do you think she did? She 
ran and jumped on Fido’s back of her own accord, 
and the minute he felt her there he began to trot 
around just as when Benny was training them, and 
Blackie had hard work to keep on, because, you see, 
she wasn’t tied. But she did keep on, and when Ben 
saw her doing that, he petted her almost to death, and 
gave her plenty of ‘ treat ’ to eat ; and she’s always ready, 
ever since then, to show her little trick.” 

Gracie clapped her hands gleefully and cried, “ Hurrah ! 
Hurrah for Benny and his dog and his kitty ! Oh, I’m 
sure I’ll keep on liking that kind of boy. I ’most hope 
I’ll see him very soon ; do you s’pose I will ? ” 

“ Why, there he is now, the little rogue !” laughed Ann, 
pointing with her whip to a clump of bushes a short dis- 
tance away, where an old fence ran along a vine-tangled 
bank, and separated the roadway from a farmer’s field of 
grain. 


22 


A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 


Leaning beside the old fence rail, Benny watched the 
coming of the phaeton. He was a nice-looking little 

fellow in spite of 
the fact that he 
had red hair and 
a very freckled 
little face. His 
eyes were blue, 
like Gracie’s, and 
he didn’t look 
the least bit like 
“a teaser,” Gracie 
decided, as she 
leaned forward in 
the phaeton and 
took a good look 
at him. 

“ What a funny 
chicken he’s got 
on his shoulder!” 
she whispered to 
Ann. 

“Oh, that’s 
Ben’s pet quail,” 
laughed Ann. 
“ He’s a great one 
for pets, you 
know, and he tamed this one when it was little, and he 
found it with a broken leg in the woods, where it had 



“ Leaning beside the old fence rail, Benny watched the 
coming of the phaeton.” 


A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 


23 


somehow got hurt and helpless, poor thing! Benny 
cured it up, he and his granny together, with bandages, 
and now that quail knows his whistle and flies to his 
shoulder when he calls her. He’s kind of bashful, and so 
he wants to see you without your seeing him, and he 
thinks we can’t see him in that shady place up there on 
the bank. Wait ! I’ll call him.” 

Ann pulled the pony to a stand-still, and was just 
going to call Benny, when Grade was caught by a fit 
of shyness, and drew herself back behind Ann so sud- 
denly that doll Angelina — who, strange to say, had been 
forgotten during Ann’s entertaining accounts of Benny — 
slipped quietly over the low side of the phaeton and lay 
forlornly in the dirt and dust of the road, while the 
phaeton started on again, and Benny, who had dodged 
under the bushes when he saw it stop, emerged again 
and watched it roll away. 


CHAPTER IV. 


THE ARRIVAL. 

NYWAY, Pve seen her ! ” said the little boy to 
his quail. “ I’ve seen her, quailie, an’ I know, 
sure’s anything, she’s the kind that’s going to 
be nice, an’ I won’t be ’fraid of her nose bein’ turned up 
at us.” He put the bird on the fence rail, patted it for 
good-by, and jumped over the huddle of weeds and 
vines all about him down to the road, where the first 
thing he beheld was the unfortunate Angelina, still smil- 
ing and contented as usual, though her waxen skin was 
scraped and soiled with dust and her fine dress had 
plainly been under one of the phaeton wheels, so close 
to the pretty little feet that it was a wonder the poor 
doll had escaped entire destruction. 

“ Hello! guess she dropped her doll! Ain’t any such 
fine dolly round this place, I know; so this one came 
from the big city, sure ’nough, along with Miss Grace’s 
little city niece. I can take her doll to her, ’n’ then I 
can see her, an’ she’ll be sure to like me, ’cause I found 
her doll.” 

Meanwhile Ann and Grade were fast nearing the bend 
in the road where Auntie Grace would be able to see 
and wave to them. Grade had not had time to think 



24 



A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 


25 


of Angelina even yet, because Ann had been relating 
some more funny tales, and Grade thought she had 
never had such a beautiful drive before. Presently the 
bend was turned, and Ann said, “ Now, then. Miss Gracie, 
who’s that? I see somebody; do you?” pointing to a 
pretty white cottage up the road. 

Gracie screamed with delight. “ Oh ! oh ! it’s Auntie 
Grace, and she’s waving to us ! ” 

Standing up in the phaeton, she pulled her little white 
handkerchief from her pocket and waved back again as 
fast as her little arm would go. 

“ Hello ! Hello ! Hello, Auntie Grace ! ” cried she ; and 
the pony pricked up one ear and hurried on as though 
he had great sympathy with the little girl’s eagerness, 
and determined not to keep Auntie Grace waving and 
waiting and watching one moment longer. 

When the phaeton presently stopped before the gate, 
Gracie hopped out like a little grasshopper, and Auntie 
caught her in a pair of loving arms with a big, tight hug, 
you may be sure. 

“ Here you are at last, darling ! ” she said, “ and how 
glad I am to see my girlie again ! ” 

“The little trunk will soon be here. Miss Grey,” said 
Ann as she drove on to the barn. “ The man said he’d 
bring it soon as he could.” 

“ There’s a present for you from mamma in my trunk,” 
said Gracie as she followed Auntie up the steps to the 
cosy little porch. 

“That’s good news,” laughed Auntie. “And how is 


26 A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 

Mamma novv-a-days ? and when is papa coming back 
from his long journey ? ” 

“ Mamma’s pretty well,” replied Gracie, “ but I guess 
she’s sad to-day, ’cause she’s used to seeing me round 
the house, and she don’t feel real good without me. I’m 
’most quite sure ; and papa isn’t coming back till two 
weeks longer, ’cause his last letter said so, and I noticed 
Mamma looked pretty disappointed ’bout it.” 

“ Oh, that’s too bad,” said Auntie, as she helped her 
little visitor “ cool off” after the long, dusty drive, and 
filled the pretty ornamental bowl on the washstand with 
cool water for bathing the little face and hands. 

“ You didn’t bring Angelina, did you ? I surely 
expected to have a visit from her too.” 

Gracie gave a frightened jump, and looked around the 
room. “ Oh, I’ve lost my dolly ! I’ve lost my dolly ! ” 
she cried, almost sobbing over the terrible discovery. 
“ Auntie Grace, I did bring Angelina ! Oh, I did bring 
her, and — why ! I haven’t seen her for ever so long, and 
I don’t know when she got losted ! ” 

Tears filled the blue eyes, and the sweet lips trem- 
bled pitifully. “ Oh, Auntie, do you think we’ll ever see 
Angelina again?” 

“ Cheer up, darling,” replied Auntie. “ Very likely she 
slipped to the floor of the phaeton. When you are 
washed and nicely cooled off, we will go out and look 
for Angelina. She’s safe enough, never fear.” But 
Gracie, while she went on with her toilet, felt that a 
great cloud had come to shut off a good deal of her 


A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 27 

sunshine, and she did a great deal of thinking while 
Auntie was brushing the tangles out of her hair and 
the dust from her dress. 

“ There, now, come down, and we’ll have poor little 
Angelina out of her loneliness in a jiffy. She must be 
tired of lying all this time in the bottom of that phaeton.” 

Gracie shook her head. “ I’m ’most sure my dolly 
isn’t there. Auntie Grace, ’cause I’d surely seen her when 
I got out, and Ann would have found her, anyway. Oh, 
dear! I’ve lost Angelina way off in the road, and she’s 
all run over and dead by this time ! ” The little voice 
was so mournful that Auntie wanted to laugh, and to 
say that she didn’t believe it had hurt Angelina much 
to be run over, and she would smile during the process 
of being killed. Just as sweetly as she smiled always 
under all circumstances, pleasant or disagreeable. But 
Gracie felt her little trouble to be so real, and Angelina 
was so really dear and important a person in the little 
girl’s opinion, that Auntie hadn’t the heart to make fun 
about it; and when they had searched the phaeton and 
the floor of the tidy little barn, and still the missing 
Angelina did not appear. Auntie really felt sorry for 
Gracie, and promised to send Ann down the road to 
hunt for the dolly, even if she had to drive back to the 
station. 

“ Oh, the doll can’t be far away,” said Ann, when 
Gracie went upstairs, “ for Miss Gracie had it in her lap 
just before we came to the high bank along the wood- 
road, you know. Miss Grey.” 


28 A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 

“ Do you mean where we saw that Ben boy ? ” asked 
Gracie eagerly. “Oh, I remember! I did have my dolly 
there, ’cause I thought she was tired, so I pulled her 
eyes shut and — and laid her down in my lap, and then 
Ann told me such nice things I forgot to remember 
Angelina any more. Oh, dear ! oh, dear ! she must have 
got lost right there, and — and ” — the soft eyes filled 
with tears, and the excited little voice trembled — “ I 
loved her more’n ever before, ’cause she was such 
comp’ny for me in the lonesome cars, you know, Auntie, 
and I specially loved her ’cause you gave her to me, 
too.” 

Then, like a flash, something she had forgotten, — 
far more important to remember than the lost dolly, — 
came into Gracie’s head, and she grew quiet on the 
instant as she said : 

“ Mamma whispered to me, just when she kissed me 
the last thing, to be sure and not forget to say a little 
thankful prayer when I got here, ’cause we ought to be 
grateful when Jesus lets us have safe Journeys, and I — 
oh. Auntie dear, I truly forgot ’bout it, and I must say 
it now. May I put my head in your lap and say it. 
Auntie ? Oh, dear ! no wonder I lost my dolly ; I’m sure 
it was because I forgot my promise to Mamma.” 

So the dear little girl knelt beside Auntie, and put 
her face down in the lap so lovingly offered her, and 
she lifted her earnest voice in these words: 

“ Dear Jesus, I’m a forgetting child, but I love you, 
and thank you in my heart all the same for your kind-^ 


A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 


29 


ness in bringing me safe here to-day, and will you please 
take good care of my dear lonely Mamma while I am 
gone from her, and please bless Auntie and me, for Jesus’ 
sake ? ” 

Then she wondered whether she might not ask that 
dear Jesus also to help her find her dolly, and her little 
heart felt quite sure that he would “ pay attention ” to 
her wish if she really asked him to ; so she said : 
“ Auntie, ’cause Jesus loves little children. He likes to 
help ’em be real happy, doesn’t he? and I’m going to 
ask Him to help me find my Angelina. Don’t you 
think it would be a good plan ? ” 

Auntie Grace stooped and kissed the sweet little face 
lifted so gravely to her, and comforted Grade by 
replying : 

“ Certainly, darling. Don’t you remember that God 
wants all his children — grown up ones as well as wee 
lambs like you — to tell Him about all our troubles, and 
ask Him for all we would like to have, and then leave 
everything to Him who knows just what is really best 
for us ? You know Mamma has often told you that, 
and the Bible tells us all that our dear Lord knows every 
secret of our hearts ; so you may always ask Him, with 
perfect trust, darling, for all your little child-heart longs 
for, and He who loved and blessed little children when 
He lived on earth will understand all you want Him to.” 

So down went Gracie’s head again, and the childish 
petition was made, and the little troubled heart was 
lightened. 


30 A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 

She had a strong faith that in some way her beloved 
doll would be restored to her, and possibly she might 
find it on the road if she went right out and searched 
for it. 

So Auntie called Ann, and told her to get ready to 
go with Gracie and hunt up the missing little compan- 
ion of Gracie’s journey. 

But while the little girl and her aunt were standing 
on the porch waiting Ann’s coming, who should appear 
at the gate but Benny himself. 

“ Why, Benny, how do you do ? ” asked Auntie. 

Benny held up the doll, and, pointing to Gracie, said : 
“ Guess she dropped it. Anyway, I found it where the 
phaeton stopped, along back a piece.” 

Gracie gave one wild scream of delight, and ran like 
a little deer down the path to meet Benny. “ Oh, you 
dear, kind boy ! ” she said, forgetting to be shy, and think- 
ing only of her recovered treasure. With Angelina in 
her arms she flew back to Auntie, and then — strange to 
say — she grew shy, and remembered that she did not 
know Benny yet. 

Benny’s heart had gone straight out to Gracie when 
she spoke her impulsive words at the gate, and there 
were twinkles in his eyes as he followed Gracie up the 
path to the porch, where Miss Grey made them acquainted 
speedily, and the two little hands met in greeting. 


CHAPTER V. 


GRACIE AND BENNY GET ACQUAINTED. 

RACIE whispered to Auntie, and then said, 
“ ’Scuse me just a little minute,” to Ben, and 
then she ran up to her little room and gave the 
recovered doll a squeeze, and, carefully wiping some dirt 
from the waxen face, squeezed it again tenderly, and 
was delighted to hear the fond, familiar “ Mamma ! ” 
squeaked out once more. 

“ There, now, I know for sure ’n’ certain you ain’t the 
leastest bit hurt, and I feel better in my spirits ! ” she 
said, as she laid her doll safely away in the bureau 
drawer. Then she sped downstairs and into the gar- 
den again, and Auntie left her with Benny presently, for 
he was so much at home there he could show her all 
about, and tell her just the best way to amuse herself. 

“ I’m going to write Mamma and tell her I’ve got you 
safe and sound,” said Auntie, “ and when your little 
trunk comes. I’ll call you.” 

“ Well, let’s go and find Blackie,” said Ben. “ She’s 
the best cat that you ever saw.” 

“ Oh, yes ; Ann told me ’bout Blackie and your dog. 
She made me laugh so much,” replied Gracie ; “ and told 
me ’bout the tricks you taught them.” 

31 



32 A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 

Ben was delighted. 

“ Wish I had Fido here now ; Td make him do things ; 
you’d see how smart he is.” 

“ You’re smart, too,” said Gracie, “ to make ’em know 
how.” 

Ben thought she was the nicest little girl he ever 
saw. He enjoyed being thought “ smart,” and meant to 
keep up his reputation, and planned to teach Fido and 
Blackie as many new tricks as he could. 

They went into the barn, and Ben called, “ Blackie ! 
Blackie ! ” A soft mew answered him, and in a few 
moments a lovely black puss appeared, and, going to 
Ben, rubbed herself against his little legs lovingly. 

Gracie was delighted. She dropped upon the floor, 
regardless of her little new dress (though the barn floor 
was neat as a pin), and called “Blackie!” in a sweet, 
coaxing little voice, which Blackie had no thought of 
resisting, for she walked over and arched her glossy 
black back for Grade’s loving hand to touch. “ Oh, you 
be-jr^?^tiful Blackie I ” said Gracie. “ I’m sure I love you 
already, and bimeby I’ll love you lots more; 'most as 
much as I love Angelina.” She pulled pussy up close to 
her breast, and put a kiss right square on the soft pink 
nose, while the cat purred loudly with pleasure. 

“ There ! now she loves you and me together ! ” cried 
Ben; “ and I’m glad. I don’t like being loved all alone ; 
it makes you so lonesome, you see. . Say — Gracie — I’m 
jolly glad you dropped your doll and let me find her, 
’cause I dunno ’s I’d had courage to come so soon and get 


A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 


33 


’quainted with you. I knew you was cornin’, but you 
bein’ a city girl, an’ I only just a country feller, you see, 
I was scared, thinkin’ you wouldn’t play with me.” 

“ Of course I’d play with you ! ” said Gracie. “ I’d be 
a ‘ proudy ’ if I wouldn’t. Mamma says country boys are 
nice boys, and Ann told me you weren’t one of those 
teasers little girls who like dollies are ’fraid of” Then 
she explained to Ben her grievances against certain boys 
at home, and he won her gratitude still further by his 
sympathy and his indignation against Angelina’s enemies. 

“ Let’s see the chickens next ! ” said Gracie, after 
Blackie had concluded that she had had enough pet- 
ting for a while, and had taken her departure. “ I like 
the chickens, they’re so feathery ; and oh ! Ben, show 
me the hen that didn’t want the little ducks to go in 
swimming. Ann told me ’bout them, too.” 

So Benny took her to the coop where Mother Hen 
and • her unusual children — a lot of little ducks — were 
enjoying themselves, and presently Ben got permission 
to let them out into the yard, where there was a tempt- 
ing little pool of water, arranged on purpose for the 
little ducks to swim about in. Then their fun began, 
and poor Mamma Hen’s trouble also ; for the moment 
those odd babies of hers saw that pool, they spread their 
little wings and waddled as fast as they could to the 
water. The poor anxious old hen strutted about on the 
edge of the pool, clucking loudly, and seeming so mis- 
erable that Grade’s tender little heart pitied her, and she 
and Benny drove the brood back into the coop very soon. 


CHAPTER VI. 


THE TRUNK ARRIVES. 

RACIE ! Gra — cie ! ” It was Auntie’s voice, and 
Gracie said, “ Oh, I guess my trunk has come, 
for Auntie Grace said she’d call me when it came. 
Will you ’scuse me, Benny ? ” 

“ Oh, yes,” replied Benny ; “ an’ I’ll run ’long home 
now. I’ll come soon again an’ play with you, if 
you won’t mind,” he added, as he ran down to the 
gate. 

Gracie called back again that “ she would be happy 
to see him,” quite in a grown-up little way, that 
impressed Benny with the idea that she was a very 
superior sort of little lady, who did him great honor in 
being willing to play with him. 

Gracie ran upstairs and found her little trunk awaiting 
her. She took the key out of- her pocket and opened 
the trunk, and then she and Auntie took out the small, 
pretty dresses and hung them up in the closet, and laid 
the dainty underclothing in the bureau drawers where 
Auntie had sprinkled sweet dried lavender. 

Presently she came across a little box, which she 
held in her hand, and, putting both hands behind her 
back, she laughed merrily. 



34 


A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 


35 


“ Guess which hand has got a be-yewtiful thing for 
you in it, Auntie Grace.” 

“ Well, it’s the right or the left hand,” laughingly 
replied Auntie. “ I'll guess both, so as to be sure and 
get the present.” 

“ Once more! ” cried Gracie, and in the excitement she 
wiggled about so that Auntie saw very plainly the little 
hand which closed over the box, and so the little niece 
produced it. 

“ I’ll open it for you,” she said, and presently she 
was holding up a pretty golden chain and locket. The 
locket held Mamma’s sweet face, and Gracie looked 
lovingly at it. 

“ Dear, precious Mamma 1 ” she said. “ Oh, I do wish 
I could just kiss her a little minute ! ” 

“ Well, when am I going to look at my gift, all by 
myself, I wonder I ” laughed Auntie. 

“ Oh, yes, I forgot. It’s yours, ’cause Mamma sent it 
to you for your birthday next week, and — and my 
present to you. Auntie, is my visit to you, you see.” 

“ And the best present in the world, too ; just as wel- 
come as Mamma’s face in the locket with the beautiful 
chain I ” exclaimed Auntie, hugging her little namesake 
closely. 

Then the dinner bell was heard — or rather not a bell, 
but a row of Chinese musical gongs, upon which the 
servant beat gently with a padded stick, and produced 
very sweet, bell-like music. 

“ Oh, what’s that ? ” asked Gracie delightedly, for she 


36 A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 

loved music. “ May I be the gong-girl while I’m here ? ” 
she asked, after they had gone downstairs, and she had 
seen the pretty string of gongs, and had played upon 
them quite correctly. 

“ No doubt Ann will let you take her place,” replied 
Auntie, smiling; and I need hardly tell you that all 
through her little visit to Auntie, Gracie held her proud 
position as “ gong-girl,” and, consequently, no amount of 
play could induce her to be late at her meals, which 
perhaps was a very good thing. 

After dinner — which Gracie enjoyed very much, because 
Auntie had so many things Gracie liked to eat — she and 
Auntie and Angelina took a little walk, and the after- 
noon passed quickly till supper time called Gracie to her 
gong duties again, and after that she had a little comfort- 
talk with dear Auntie out on the porch in the soft twilight. 
Then the bed hour and Auntie’s good-night kiss, and 
then — oh, there would come the long, restful sleep in 
the dainty little bed prepared for her — and afterward 
the awaking in the shine of a new, happy day, while 
the birdies were singing their morning songs ! 


CHAPTER VII. 


GRACIE MAKES A NEW FRIEND. 


VVO or three days after this, Benny — who had 
been impatient to get down to Auntie’s cottage 
again the very next day after his introduction 
to Gracie, but had not been allowed by his grandmother 
to do so, for fear he might be considered intrusive and 
troublesome by Miss Grey — at last received permission 
to go, and started off very happily with Fido. He had 
been quite a busy boy during those two or three days, 
and had found chances to do several errands here and 
there, and earned money to put in the little tin Bank 
on the kitchen mantel. He was always delighted when 
he could drop into that little Bank some small amount, 
which his own efforts had earned, to help his dear old 
granny a little. So he felt very light of heart as he 
started off with Fido for an hour or so of play with his 
new friend. 

Fido ran after the squirrels, and barked at the birds and 
the butterflies, without the slightest intention of scaring 
them, of course, but simply because he felt quite as happy 
as his young master, and not being able to whistle, as 
Benny was doing, he gave vent to his joy in his own 
doggish fashion, though it must be confessed that the 


38 A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 

squirrels and the birds and yellow-winged butterflies 
didn’t appreciate his light-hearted way one bit. 

“Now, Fido, stop it right away!” at last said Benny, 
whose tender little heart couldn’t bear to see the havoc 
Fido was causing. “Stop being cruel, and act like the 
gentlemanly dog I’ve tried to teach you to be.” 

Fido drooped his tail, and glanced sideways at Ben 
in a shamed way. 

“ You’re going to show off* some tricks to Miss Gracie, 
sir, and if you don’t do your best I’ll be ’shamed of 
you,” continued Ben. “ Here now ! sit up, and beg my 
pardon for chasing poor little things smaller ’n you are, 
and they can’t even chase you back again, either. Up, 
now ! and beg pardon, sir ! ” 

Fido wagged his tail, and then, sitting on his little 
haunches, raised his fore paws to Benny in a very cunning 
way, which made the little boy laugh. The moment 
Fido saw the smile, down he came on all four little 
legs again, and away he went over the road, as happy 
as could be ; and, with Ben running after him, it wasn’t 
long before they reached Grade’s house, and found the 
little girl swinging away under the trees and singing like 
a little human bird. 

“Hello, Gracie!” called Ben, and “Hello!” called 
Gracie in return, as she slipped out of the swing and 
met Benny at the gate. 

They had a merry afternoon of it, you may be sure ; 
and Blackie rode just like a real circus cat on Fido’s 
shaggy back — when she wasn’t slipping off of it. I 


A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 


don’t believe Fido especially enjoyed having Pussie’s 
claws sticking into him, as she tried to keep herself from 
falling; but he was a good little dog, and remembered 
his training, and he was rewarded by a piece of cake 

afterward, while Pus- 
sie had her reward in 
a saucer of cream. 

Then Gracie and 
Benny and Fido 
played at hide and 
seek, and Fido never 
failed to find the chil- 
dren and drag them 
out with his teeth — 
very carefully, so as 
neither to hurt nor 
tear — from their hid- 
ing places. Then 
Benny made Fido 
jump over a stick, and 
through the circle he 
made with his arms, 
and through a barrel hoop he found in the barn. And 
he showed Gracie how Fido always begged pardon 
when he had been naughty, and the poor little doggie 
wondered what new, naughty things he had done, that 
he was kept begging pardon so much. 

Then they tried to make Blackie turn “ cart wheels,” as 
Benny could, and as he had tried to teach his dog to do, 




40 A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 

only Fido for once in his life rebelled at the trick. But 
Blackie, very wisely, refused to be taught such nonsense, 
and after she had scratched Grade twice, and arched 
her back and hissed at Benny angrily, the children let 
her alone and went off in search of better fun. 

Meanwhile the dinner hour was approaching, and Ann 
looked for the little “ gong-girl.” I have told you, I 
think, that Gracie — owing to that Chinese gong arrange- 
ment — was not late at the meal hours during her visit ; 
but I must make this one exception, after all, for on 
this occasion she could not be found, and Ann called 
and looked in vain. 

“ Why, she was here a few moments ago,” said Auntie. 
“ I don’t think she can be far away.” 

But Gracie was not as near as her Auntie fancied, 
and as dinner could not very well be postponed, 
according to Cook’s notion, it chanced that when the 
little girl came hurrying in a little later she was ashamed 
to see Auntie sitting all alone at the dinner table, and 
almost ready for her dessert. 

“ Oh, Auntie ! ” cried Gracie, her face flushed and warm, 
and her little voice choked with eagerness, “ I truly for- 
got ’bout dinner time, and — and — I never remembered I 
had to beat the gong for Ann, and I’m dreadf’ly ’shamed 
and sorry.” But Auntie said, 

“ Never mind, dear. Sit down and tell me all about 
it” — for she knew her small niece had news to tell. 

“ Well,” began Gracie, “ you see it was time for Benny 
to be going, he said; and I said I’d go a little way 


A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 


41 


with him. I had Angelina with me, ’cause we'd been 
playing keep house up in the hay, you know, and I didn’t 
like to leave her all ’lone by herself ; so we went part 
way with Benny, and just when I was going to come 
back, you know. Auntie, Benny, he said his gran’ma had 
some lovely calico that would make Angelina a new 
dress, and if I’d just go on to the cottage she’d give it 
to me. Well, you know Fd never been there, and was 
most ’fraid to go, but Benny coaxed dreadi’ly hard, so I 
went — ’cause, you see, I never once thought ’bout din- 
ner time. Well — just as we got to Benny’s house, we 
heard someone say quick, as though there was being 
some kind of a scare going on : ‘ Oh, chicky ! shoo ! 
shoo ! ’ and Benny said, ‘ Oh, that’s Sally Smith ! What’s 
she doin’, I wonder, in the kitchen ! ’ and he ran fast as 
he could to the kitchen door, and there was a little girl 
driving a big chicken off the stove. Benny said it was 
his lame quail, and it had got out of its basket and 
flew right on the stove, where gran’ma had been get- 
ting dinner ready; and it was hot as could be on top 
where the quail was. And, you see, that little girl lives 
pretty near Benny’s house, and she had come to speak 
to his gran’ma ’bout something, and gran’ma wasn’t in 
the kitchen, but the quail was, and its little feet would 
have been burned if Sally hadn’t shooed him off quick.” 

Auntie seemed much interested in Gracie’s story, and 
of course, as the little girl was eating and telling her 
tale at the same time, it took a little longer to tell than 
it takes you, little reader, to read about it; and Gracie 


42 A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 

was quite through with her recital when Ann brought in 
the dessert at last, so she went on in her eager lit- 
tle voice : “ Well, 
when the quail had 
flapped down on 
the floor, and 
Benny had put it 
back in the bas- 
ket and shut the 
cover on, — it had 
plenty of air, you 
see, ’cause the 
cover had holes in 
it, — he came back 
and said, ‘Gracie, 
this is Sally Smith, 
an’ she lives near 
here. Sally, this 
is my new friend 
Gracie, an’ she’s 
come to visit her 
Auntie, Miss 
Grey, up the road; 
you know the 
place.’ And then 
Sally shook hands 
with me and said ‘ How do you do,’ and I said ‘ I am 
well, thank you,’ and — and — oh, then Benny said his 
gran’ma had gone to the spring down the hill for 



A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 


43 


water, and I said I guessed I’d come some other time, 
’cause I had to hurry home; and so I hurried fast as I 
could, and I kept thinking ’bout that little girl all the 
way, for. Auntie, I know she’s a nice girl, and I liked her 
’cause Benny whispered to me afterward that she had lots 
of hard work to do at her house, and she hadn’t any 
nice things to play with, and hadn’t the least mite of a 
dolly, either. Oh ! I don’t see how any little girl can 
get along without a dolly to love, do you ? ” 

Then Auntie Grace explained that little Sally was 
living with a sick mother, and they were so poor that 
the neighbors around the village helped take care of 
them, and had given clothing to them, and kept Sally 
in nice order, and provided medicines for the sick 
mother; and that little brave Sally — though only one 
year older than Grade — was obliged to take care of the 
house and do the work necessary, and care for and 
watch over her mother, and had very little time for play. 

She’s a very nice girl, dear, and you will like to be 
kind to Sally whenever you can. I’m sure,” said Auntie 
Grace, as they finished dinner and went out on the 
piazza presently. 

“ Now I know two new children, Auntie,” said Gracie, 
“ and I’m having a be-yewtiful time visiting you ! ” She 
put Miss Angelina in a chair, and climbed up in Auntie’s 
lap, and, after they had talked a little longer. Grade’s head 
began to nod, and the first thing Auntie knew next was 
that she was holding in her arms a sound asleep little 
niece ; and, rather than waken her. Auntie Grace sat still 


44 A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 

for some time, and, I must confess, before Gracie awoke. 
Auntie had a pair of very tired arms indeed. But do 
you think she minded that ? Oh, no ! she was too glad 
to have a dear little golden-haired niece to hold, to even 
realize that she was tired, and if company had not called 
at last, I don’t know how long Gracie would have gone 
on dreaming under the green vines that shaded the 
porch. 


CHAPTER VIII. 


THE OLD GENTLEMAN. 

jNE day when Auntie Grace had some errands in 
I the village, she took Gracie with her in the 
I phaeton, and, as they were driving along, they 
saw, a little distance off, the figure of an elderly man 
approaching. 

He paused presently in the shade of some tall bushes, 
and Gracie said : 

“ Why, Auntie, that’s the nice, kind old man I met in 
the cars. Can’t I speak to him as we pass ? ” 

“Certainly, dearie,” replied Auntie. “ But he may not 
see us, for he seems to be deep in thought, and he stands 
quite far back from the road, you see.” 

But as the pony trotted along, his hoofs making music 
on the hard ground, the old gentleman lifted his eyes, and 
a smile flew into them at once. 

“ Why, how do you do, little maid ? ” he said, lifting his 
cap to Miss Grey. “ I was just this minute thinking of 
you, and wondering how my small traveling companion 
was getting along now-a-days. I was taking a little walk 
down your way, to see if I could chance to see you.” 

Gracie beamed all over her little face, and replied, as 
she laid her hand on Auntie’s arm : 



45 


46 A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 

“ Oh, I’m very glad to see you again, sir, and this is my 
dear Auntie Grace Grey. You know I told you about 
Auntie in the cars, but I didn’t 
know your name, so I told her 
about you without any name.” 

He laughed, and said : “ Let 
me introduce myself, then. My 
name is John Howe, and I am 
delighted to meet the auntie of 
my dear little friend here.” 

“ I think, sir,” replied Auntie 
Grace, “ that we have mutual 
acquaintances in a Mr. and Mrs. 
Tenny who live a few miles 
beyond our village. Your 
name has been mentioned to 
me by them, and I am very 
glad to have met you. And 
do let me thank you now for 
your kindness to Gracie during 
the journey from New York. 
She appreciated it very much.” 

“ Well, now, if I lightened 
her journey any, I’m sure I’m 
glad to know it,” said the old 

“He paused presently in the shade gCntlcman, and I ITl going tO 

of some tall bushes.” Page 45- ask her to do mc thc favor to 

come and see me some day, when you can spare her. 
I’ve a big barn, and it is such a nice place for a lot of 



A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 


47 


children to play in, that I’m going to ask one or two little 
people I meet now and then out my way to come and 
have a romp in it. May Gracie join them some nice 
day, if I let her know when ? ” 

“ Indeed she may, Mr. Howe,” was Auntie’s answer, 
while Grade’s dimples kept growing, one after the other, 
for delight. 

“ Well, then,” the old man said, “ I’ll send her a note ; 
and now good-by ! I won’t hinder you any longer.” 
He raised his hat again, and, with good-bys from Auntie 
and Gracie, the gentleman walked on, and the pony 
trotted along to make up for lost time. 

The errands detained Auntie quite a long time in the 
village, and it was close upon twilight when the pony’s 
head was turned homeward at last. The drive was a 
beautiful one. Broad, green meadows stretched away 
here and there, with a background of hills, down which 
the shadows of the closing day were creeping softly. 
Farm-houses nestled under great spreading trees, and 
pretty brooks ran, singing their own merry songs, along 
the roadside, till they wandered away into the woody 
ways, where the shadows were deeper and the birds were 
getting ready for their good-night lullabies. 

At one place on their homeward way Auntie and 
Gracie passed a cool, shady lane, leading out of some 
woods and toward a pretty farm-house. 

Down the lane came a drove of sheep, and a young 
woman walked beside them. Helping her in his faith- 
ful way was the sheep-dog. He kept his eyes wide open 


48 


A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 


and his ears pricked up, ready to catch the slightest sign 
of danger to his mistress and her flock. 

Gracie thought it was a beautiful sight to see those 
pretty sheep coming so eagerly home from the pasture — 



“Home from the pasture.” 


where they had played and roamed about all day — to the 
safe fold where nothing could harm them, and where they 
could rest in peace throughout the night. 


A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 


49 


“ There’s a little sermon for you and for me, Gracie,” 
said Auntie, smiling, as she saw the little girl watching 
the scene with great interest and pleasure, “a dear 
little sermon right here on the spot, and I wonder if 
you guess what it is ? ” 

Gracie pondered a moment ; then she remembered the 
lambs she had seen playing in the meadow beside the 
station, as she had looked from the train window on her 
way to visit Auntie, and the little rhyme about little 
lambs, and Jesus as the tender shepherd ; so she replied : 

“ I guess the sermon is about Jesus loving little lambs; 
and, of course, if he loves the little lambs, he must love 
the sheep, too, ’cause they are the mothers of the lambs.” 

“Well,” said Auntie, “that is right so far as it goes; 
but there’s more than that in the sermon I read, as I see 
this picture nature has given us. I’ll tell you, Gracie, 
what I mean. We are all of us — all human beings, I 
mean — just like sheep let out to roam about the pas- 
tures. Some of us are heedless, and go wandering away 
from the right path, and beyond the Shepherd’s wise 
provision for our comfort. We think we know better 
than the dear Master who owns us, what is best and 
more comfortable for us. But we find pretty soon that 
we do not, and we get into trouble; and, after finding 
that we can’t make ourselves feel any better by our own 
efforts alone, we begin to long for the Shepherd, and to 
realize that only He can help us, and so we begin to 
look for Him, — and all the while He is looking for us, 
you know, — and when we call for Him with all our 


50 A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 

hearts, whether we are little lambs or grown sheep, He 
surely hears us, and if we listen in earnest we can hear 
His loving voice, and be able to follow Him straight to 
the fold, and where we feel safe and happy at once. 
Now, isn’t that a real little sermon those sheep have 
been preaching to you and me ? ” 

“ Well, Auntie Grace, I never shall — I’m sure I never 
shall — forget it,” said Gracie. “ I sing a little song 
in Sunday-school at home that begins, ‘Jesus, tender 
Shepherd, hear me, bless Thy little lamb to-night ’ ; but 
somehow it never seemed so like a real thing as it will 
after this, ’cause, you see. Auntie, I can see this real pic- 
ture all the time in my memory, and so I can’t forget 
one bit of the little sermon you’ve told me.” 

They drove on a little faster now, for the shadows 
were growing and growing, and Ann would be wait- 
ing supper and wondering where her people had 
gone to. 

When they at last reached home, Ann told them that 
Benny had been there to say that his granny had found 
the pieces of pretty calico she had promised for doll 
Angelina, and he didn’t bring them down, for the rea- 
son that Gracie might like to go and see if she liked 
them. 

Gracie laughed. “ I’m most sure. Auntie, that Benny 
Brown just wanted to make an excuse for me to go there; 
don’t you s’pose so, too ? But I’d go there without get- 
ting any calico, ’cause I like Benny so much, and Sally ’s 
a real nice girl, too.” 


A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 51 

“Well, I'll go and see Granny Brown soon, and, if 
you like, we’ll go together ; or would you rather not wait 
for me ? ” said Auntie. 

“ Oh, I’d rather wait for my dear, sweet Auntie ! ’’ 
cried Gracie, standing on tiptoe to draw Auntie’s face 
down to hers for a loving kiss. 


CHAPTER IX. 


THE INVITATION. 

“ ‘ Oh, dolly ! my dolly, my beautiful dolly ! 

We’re having a visit so nice and so jolly ! ’ ” 

O sang Gracie one morning, a day or two later, 
as she and Angelina sat in the hammock on the 
shady corner of the piazza. She felt quite elated 
at the composition of her rhyme and the music she set 
it to, and, after repeating it a few times, decided to add 
two more lines and a little more variety to the tune. 
So she began : “ ‘ I’m glad that we came to my Auntie’s 
house,’ and — and — and I’m glad that — oh, dear me! I 
don’t see what ’ll go with 'house' 1 ‘I’m glad that I came 
to my Auntie’s house,’ and I’m glad — oh, I know what ’ll 
do 1 This is it : ‘ I’m glad you’re behaving as good as 
a mouse!' There, that’s just the rhyme I wanted!” So 
she touched her little foot to the floor, and started the 
hammock with a good push, and began her song again : 

“ ‘ Oh, dolly ! my dolly, my beautiful dolly ! 

We’re having a visit so nice and so jolly! 

I’m glad that we came to my Auntie’s house, 

And I’m glad you’re behaving as good as a mouse.’ ” 

While she sang away happily, doll Angelina took an 

52 



A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 


53 


attitude which caused her eyes to close, and Gracie, per- 
ceiving that fact, slipped out of the hammock, and, in a 
motherly way, laid her daughter down on the hammock 
cushion, and left her sleeping as sweetly as dolls gen- 
erally do. Then she decided to run out in the meadow 
just back of the house for a little visit to the bees and 
butterflies. Dear little Gracie! how she did love that 
meadow, with its soft, green carpet, and its nodding 
daisies, and the bright-winged visitors which flew about 
from blossom to blossom, and seemed to be playing at 
hide and seek all the time ! 

She finally made a little nest for herself amidst the 
tall grasses, and snuggled down to rest. She was wish- 
ing Benny would happen along, and wondering how 
soon Auntie would make her visit to old Mrs. Brown, 
when she heard her name called, and recognized that 
dear Auntie’s sweet voice. 

Jumping up from her fragrant nest in the meadow, 
she hastened to the house, and there was Auntie on 
the porch. 

“Well, darling, what do you say to this?” She held 
in her hand a note just received, addressed to her, with 
a postscript to Gracie. “ It is from your kind old gen- 
tleman, dear,” continued Auntie, “and this is what he 
says.” She began to read, as follows : 

“ ‘ Dear Miss Grey : 

“ ‘ If you are willing, I should like to have Gracie 
come out to my barn party on Wednesday, day after 


54 A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 

to-morrow. As I am not yet acquainted with many 
little people about here, I hope Grade will help me 
out in numbers by asking as many of her young friends 
as can join her. Trusting that this will meet with your 
approval, I remain, dear madam, 

“ ‘ Very truly yours, 

“ ‘John Howe. 

“ ‘ P. S. — To Little Gracie : 

“ ‘ My dear little girl, please ask any of your young 
companions whom you would like to have at my party, 

and be sure that 
they will, each 
and all, find a 
welcome from 
your old friend 
and his big 
barn.’ ” 

“ Why, Auntie 
Gracie Grey! isn’t 
it splendid ?” ex- 
claimed Gracie, 
clapping her 
hands. “Of 
course I must 

The nest in the meadow. Page 53. ^akc Benny, and 

— oh. Auntie I do 

you think I might ask Sally, too ? You see, I don’t know 
anyone else here, and, anyway, Sally is so sad and tired 



A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 


55 


all the time, don’t you think she’d like to have a little 
fun in the big barn?” 

“ Certainly, dear, I do think so ; and we will go this 
very afternoon and give both children the invitation.” 

That suited Gracie exactly, and, as the dinner was 
ready to be served just then, Gracie hurried to her duty 
as “ gong-girl,” and pretty soon the business of eating 
and drinking at Auntie’s dainty table was well under 
way. Auntie drank to Gracie’s health and the success 
of the barn party in a glass of clear, fresh well-water, 
which she laughingly called '' Adanis ale,'' because it 
was the only kind of “ ale ” Adam — the first man — ever 
had to drink, and no better kind has ever been found 
on earth since. 

Gracie drank to Auntie’s health in her glass of rich, 
creamy milk, and wished all sorts of beautiful and glad 
things for her; and they had such a delicious piece of 
roast beef, and such snowy mashed potatoes, and such 
crisp, sweet lettuce, and such dainty little side dishes, 
and finally, to “ top off,” such foamy, floating, whipped 
cream with raspberry jelly quivering all over it like little 
islands, that it was no wonder Gracie’s appetite was 
almost too great for her small size. I’ve almost made 
myself hungry by describing the cosy little meal, and 
so I’ll pass on to the afternoon. 


CHAPTER X. 


OFF TO SEE GRANNY. 

rS|T was in the cool, pleasant part of the after- 
1^ noon when Auntie and Gracie set forth on their 
walk through the wooded lane toward Benny’s 
little home. 

Granny sat in her rocking chair in the neat little room 
which served as the dining and sitting room, as well 
as the kitchen, for the little home was so small and so 
cosy that it only possessed three rooms and the wood- 
shed. But oh, how neat and clean those three rooms 
always were ! and as for the woodshed, why. Auntie 
Grace’s at home wasn’t kept in better order; for was it 
not Benny’s special pride ? and the only place where he 
could do — as he said — his housekeeping? 

Granny sat knitting and thinking, while the kettle sang 
its song. 

I think the kettle’s song must have been something 
like this, — I mean the words of its song, — if they could 
have made themselves clear on the spot: 

“ Oh, I’m the friend of the rich and poor, 

And a happy old thing am I ! 

The hotter the fire, the louder I sing, 

While my steam is rising high. 

56 



- Granny sat knitting and thinking, while the kettle sang.” Page 56. 


68 


A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 


“ Whether I’m black, or whether I shine, 

It matters not to a heart like mine ; 

For I’m the friend of the lovers of tea, 

And what in the world could they do without me?” 

I cannot, of course, tell you what Granny was think- 
ing about, but no doubt her thoughts were traveling 
away back along the years past and gone, and perhaps 
she was living over — as old people have a comforting 
way of doing — her “ little girl days,” when she, like 
Benny, had a dear grandma to make happy, and wait 
upon, and love dearly, as little Benny did now for her. 
Perhaps she was thinking, too, of what a great and 
precious comfort the little grandson was to her. If lit- 
tle people only knew what real little blessings and com- 
forts they can be to old people at all times, whether 
rich or poor, if they tried to be, and if they only knew 
how grandmamas appreciate and welcome those expres- 
sions of love and thoughtfulness on the part of their 
little people, what a big pile of happiness would grow 
in every heart that has begun to beat more feebly as 
the passing years have taken strength from the tired old 
body. I do not like to see children act rudely and care- 
lessly toward elderly or old people, and when they do 
so they are never quite happy in their hearts afterward. 

But I am preaching a little sermon right in the 
midst of my story, and Pm sure I didn’t intend that, so 
we will go back to Granny. While she sat knitting 
away so restfully. Auntie and Gracie came to the door 
and knocked, and at Granny’s cheery “ Come in ! ” they 


A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 


59 


entered. Of course they received a hearty welcome, and 
Grade asked where Benny was, for, not seeing him 
about, she felt that she must hunt him up at once and 
give him the all-important invitation. She told Granny 
all about it, and the old woman was pleased, of course, 
for every good time that could chance along Benny’s 
way. 

“ Bless your heart, dearie,” she said, “ it ’ll be a grand 
good frolic for the child. Ben’s a good boy, and he 
deserves good times, though it isn’t often he gets a real 
holiday treat such as yours will be. The boy is some- 
where around, for I heard him whistling a few moments 
ago. Like as not he’s in the wood-lot yonder.” 

“ I’ll find him. Granny dear, never you fear, for I’ll call 
as loud as ever I can; and oh, won’t he be glad when 
he hears about the barn party!” 

“ When you come back, dearie. I’ll give you the pieces 
of calico I found for your dolly. Now don’t let me 
forget it.” 

Sure enough, Benny was found in the woods, and at 
that moment he was playing with a toad, which had no 
more fear of him than if he had been one of its inti- 
mate friends. Benny never hurt any living creature. 
The birds never feared him ; on the contrary, they liked 
him, because he liked to scatter crumbs for them. The 
animals, wherever he met them, never thought of being 
afraid of a stick or a stone ; and the insects he came 
across were as safe in his path as though no living 
person were near them. 


60 A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 

The little toad he was talking to sat on its little hind 
legs as complacently and as confidently as though it were 
“ plenty large enough to fight Benny if it had wanted to,” 
as Gracie described it afterward to Auntie. It blinked its 
eyes wisely as Benny talked to it, and seemed to under- 
stand that he was saying kind words and caressing things 
to its homely little self “ Hello, Gracie ! ” cried Ben, as 
the little girl ran merrily toward him. “This is a jolly 
nice toad ; see ! I can tickle him, and he thinks it’s fun.” 
He knelt down and gently tickled the toad on its breast 
with a small twig. Toady swelled up, and “ looked 
pleasant,” so Benny declared, but Gracie drew away from 
it, and called it “ a horrid thing ! ” 

“ No, it isn’t a horrid thing ! ” contradicted Benny. “ I 
don’t call it horrid just ’cause it’s homely. I feel sorry 
for toads, ’cause everybody’s down on ’em; and they 
ain’t pretty, that’s a fact. But God made ’em, same’s 
He made us; and Granny says they, and all sorts of 
bugs and things, no matter how horrid they look, are 
God’s things, and we ain’t got the leastest bit of right 
to hurt ’em and plague ’em, ’specially ’cause they can’t 
fight us back.” 

“ Some things can fight us back,” argued Gracie ; “ for 
there are big things that bite and kick, and I guess you 
couldn’t hurt them if you dared. I’ve seen pictures 
of great big animals, that are God’s animals, just the 
same as bugs are, and they’d scare and hurt us, ’stead 
of our scaring them, you better believe.” 

“Yes, I know; but Granny says all animals should be 


A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 61 

treated kindly, no matter how big they are — and the big 
ones forget to be cross and scary if folks treat ’em well. 
Anyway, toads can’t hurt you, and you can tickle this 
one if you want to. Try it?” 

Gracie decided to do so, and presently the toad was 
in a blissful condition again. “ I always hated ’em be- 
fore,” said Gracie, after the toad had been allowed to 
hop under some vines and look out for himself at last, 
“ but I’m always going to think they’re nice, after this, and 
I'll never — no, never — throw any more stones at ’em, as 
I did yesterday in the garden.” 

“ Why, Gracie Moore ! ” exclaimed Benny in grieved 
surprise. “ Would you throw stones at anything that 
ain’t got any arms to throw stones back at you ? Oh ! 
that’s a mean trick. It’s mean to shy stones, anyway, 
even at people, ’cause it’s like fighting. Granny says, and 
I don’t b’lieve you really would.” 

Gracie looked a little ashamed. “ Well, I haven’t ever 
thrown ’em at people, but I guess I have at cats and 
things sometimes. But I won’t any more. Now, I’ve 
got a lovely thing to tell you” — and she delivered her 
barn-frolic message, greatly to Benny’s delight. 

She told him she wanted Sally, too, and he thought 
it would be a splendid treat for her, and he knew she 
had one real nice dress to wear, and would look as well 
as any of the little girls, “ except Gracie herself.” Then 
he finished gathering the little twigs and sticks for fuel, 
for which he had come to the woods, and, Gracie help- 
ing him, his little hand-wagon was soon filled. 


62 A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 

Then they returned to the cottage, and Granny Brown 
gave Gracie the pretty bits of calico she thought could be 
used for Angelina s gowns, and a piece of very old-fash- 
ioned silk, a part of an “ auld lang syne ” work bag, which 
no doubt Angelina would enjoy for a “ best dress.” 
Gracie thanked Granny with a kiss, and then she and 
Auntie went over to Sally’s house and made her a very 
happy little girl with the invitation to the barn frolic. 
“ But s’pose mamma isn’t well enough to let me go ? ” 
asked Sally, with a sudden feeling that it would be selfish 
to leave her sick mother and go off for her own pleasure. 

Auntie smiled. “ Well, dear, if that should happen, I 
will let Ann come and sit with your mother the whole 
afternoon ; and as Granny has also volunteered to come 
over and see her too. I’m sure you need not be at all 
afraid to enjoy yourself” 

Sally’s mother was as glad as Sally herself at the holi- 
day anticipations, and said she had felt so much better 
lately, she was sure it would not be necessary for Sally 
to feel anxious. 

So presently Auntie and Gracie were wending their 
way home again, the little girl hopping and skipping 
along under the trees with Ben (who was going part way 
with them, and then to the pasture lot to drive home a 
neighbor’s cow for him), and both small tongues as full 
of chatter as little tongues usually are. 

After they reached home Aunt Grace sent a note to the 
old gentleman and accepted his kind invitation in the 
name of the three children, with their delighted thanks. 


CHAPTER XL 


THE BARN FROLIC. 


jHE afternoon of the anticipated day came at last, 
and it seemed as though the sun was doing its 
best to shine as it had never shone before. The 
very moment Benny and Sally had finished their dinners, 
and set things in order according to their usual duties, 
they hurried with happy hearts and eager feet toward 
the “ Grey cottage,” for there they were to meet Gracie, 
and all were to be driven, by the man who did barn 
chores for Aunt Grace, to the old gentleman’s place. 
Sally brought word to Miss Grey that Ann would not be 
required, after all, to go to her mamma, as she was feeling 
much stronger that day ; and, besides. Granny was going 
right over there. So she (Sally) was ready to have as 
jolly a time as possible, and with no anxiety about her 
dear mamma. 

John, the man, was just going for Dobbin, who was 
having a refreshing drink in the barnyard. “ Oh, let me 
help harness up ! ” cried Ben, starting off on the run. 
“ May I lead him to the barn, John ? ” 

“ All right! Go ahead, sonny, an’ make yourself useful 
as well as ornamental in that there spick and span suit 
you’re wearin’ to-day. I’ll wager a hot cookey old Dob- 



-04 


A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 


bin 'd ruther stay ter home in peace than trot you passel 
o’ youngsters to a frolic in hay he can’t get a bite of, 

let alone rollin’ 
\ and kickin’ in it, 
_ - , as you folks will.” 

Benny wasn’t 
sure whether 
John was being 
cross, or only 
joking, but when 
he saw the 
twinkles in the 
man’s eyes he 
knew there was 
no “scolding” 
about it ; and 
when John pres- 
ently added, 
“ Bless ye, my 
boy! but what 
wouldn’t I give 
to be again a 
shaver like you, 

an’ bound for a barn frolic such as is ahead of you I — I 
used to pitch inter them things like a good un, I can tell 
you ! ” — why, Ben actually wished some fairy would come 
along and turn John’s years back till he became once 
more a boy. 

Dobbin finished his drink, and followed Benny obe- 



‘ Oh, let me help harness up ! ’ ” Page 63. 


A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 


65 


diently to the barn, though I dare say he didn’t feel much 
like being put before the wagon. 

Auntie Grace decided that it would be wiser to send 
Ann with the children, and she confided to Ann that if 
the little niece, who was not used to barn-romps and 
rough frolics of that sort, managed to escape the prongs 
of a pitchfork, and a fall from some high beam, and 
returned with a whole little body, she should really feel 
like drawing a long breath of relief, and didn’t believe 
she could do so until then. 

However, the event went off beautifully, and there 
were about a dozen little folks there in the old, roomy, 
sweet-scented barn, to which Benny, as the “ gentle- 
man” of his especial party, proudly led the way. 

They had a grand, good time, and climbed the hay- 
lofts, one after the other. Grade being as venturesome 
as the rest, with whom she very speedily got acquainted. 
The boys climbed even the high beams above the lofts, 
and let themselves tumble with yells — on purpose to 
“ scare the girls ” — down to the fragrant masses of hay 
beneath, and they rolled the girls around in the hay like 
balls, until once Grade fell off the loft down into a great 
heap of soft hay on the floor and pulled Sally after her, 
both laughing till they were too weak to stand up and 
try another climb, till some of the boys helped them. 

The hens, which had been pecking grain about the 
floor, had not tarried in the barn, you may be sure, any 
longer than necessary, after it was invaded by the chil- 
dren, and one or two sly hens, which had been laying 


66 A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 

eggs in their hidden nests way in the darkest corner of 
the hayloft, thought no more of their eggs, but flew, 
with loud cackles and frightened squawks, from the loft 
to the barn floor, and, with fluttering wings, disappeared 
as soon as possible through the open doors into the 
sunshine and peace of the scenes outside. 

Everything went smoothly during the good time there 
in the old barn; not a cross word was spoken, nor any 
unkindness shown on the part of any of the children. 
Sunny hearts, sunny eyes, merry voices, and fun — oh, 
lots and lots of fun ! 

The funniest thing — and yet it wasn’t very pleasant 
“fun,” after all, though it made the children laugh so 
heartily, and even the little victim himself — happened to 
the smallest boy in the group, and that was when he 
tumbled, face down, upon a nest of eggs, nobody had 
seen, hidden deeply in the hay, and, when he arose, his 
poor little face was covered with the contents of the 
smashed eggs, and he looked like a yellow-masked little 
chappie. Of course the others laughed — how could they 
help it ? — and of course he laughed himself, because he 
was too happy a boy in his heart to mind the accident. 

But Sally made a wisp of hay do duty as a towel, and 
then went to the kitchen with him, where a basin of water 
and soap, and a soft towel, made him presentable again. 

That was really the only accident which happened, 
and, as I say, such a comical one that nobody cared. 

Well — after a nice, long time of play, and when the 
little people were beginning to get pretty warm and 



The Barn Frolic. Page 63 


68 A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 

tired, and ready for a rest, Mr. Howe appeared, and rang 
a little bell. 

“Hello!” cried Benny. “What’s that? I hope, sir, it 
doesn’t mean the fun is over!” He peeped down from 
the hayloft at Mr. Howe, who rang his bell merrily and 
laughed, as Benny asked his question so anxiously. 

“ Ting-a-ling-ling-ling ! ” said the bell in its silvery 
tones ; and, one by one, the little folks scrambled down 
from the loft, and, with wisps of hay and straw sticking 
in their tousled little heads, and clinging to their cloth- 
ing, they went very reluctantly to the wide open door. 

“ Now, you youngsters, come with me ! ” said Mr. Howe, 
and he led the way to a large tree on a plot of grass, 
where the children found a table spread with refresh- 
ments most liked by their kind. 

“ Now, then, go ahead and eat your fill ! ” Mr. Howe 
commanded, laughingly; and, with loud and merry hurrahs 
and cheers for their good old friend, the children gath- 
ered about the table, while Mr. Howe sat down on his 
favorite bench under a tree, a short, distance away, and 
watched his little guests, with a heart as happy and 
young in feeling as theirs. His old servant waited upon 
them, and it gave her as much pleasure as her master 
felt, for she “ dearly loved the little dears,” and regretted 
she was not living in a house overflowing with them. 
She made them eat their fill, and at last they were sat- 
isfied, and the good things remaining held no more 
temptation for their healthy appetites. Then they filed 
into the house and washed sticky little mouths and 


A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 


69 


fingers, before going back for a last good frolic in the 
roomy old barn. 

But one of their number did not go with them, though 
they did not miss the little absent one until her sister 
cried presently, Why, where can Baby May be ? She 
isn’t here ! ” and back to the house she ran again, call- 
ing, “ May ! Baby May ! ” at the top of her voice. But 
the old servant stood at the door and held up a warn- 
ing finger. 

“ ’Sh ! don’t make a noise ! Come and see ! ” 

Well, there was the little one sound asleep in the 
large kitchen rocker. She had picked a kitten up in 
her arms, and climbed into the chair with it, and, being 
tired and sleepy, dear little mite, with her play, the very 
moment her small drowsy head touched the pillow 
behind her, that very moment, of course, she went float- 
ing away into dreamland, and, being in a corner of the 
large room, the eager children, hurrying back to their 
play, failed to see her, and so she slept on in sweetest 
rest, while the old servant moved carefully about at her 
duties, so as not to waken her. “ She’s tired ! so tired, 
poor baby ! ” murmured the woman ; and, going to the 
doorway to beckon her master in to see the pretty pic- 
ture, was in time to keep the older girl from disturbing 
the little one’s slumber. 

Kitty-cat was sound asleep, too, and they slept on dur- 
ing the next half-hour, while the other children finished 
their barn games, and it was at last time to go home. 

Then there was another surprise for the little people ; 


VO A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 

for Mr. Howe had told John and Ann that they needn’t 
return for their three passengers, and he had also told the 
parents of the others that he would return them in 

safety himself Con- 
sequently, the chil- 
dren were wildly 
delighted to find a 
“ straw ride ” ahead 
for them, when they 
were ready to go. 
The large farm 
wagon was piled 
with hay, and a pair 
of sleek horses were 
ready to draw the 
merry load of pas- 
sengers. 

Tom, the colored 
man, sat perched 
on his high front 
seat. “ Now, Tom,” 
said Mr. Howe, “ if 
you drive Miss 
Grey’s little people 
home first, it will give these other small folks who live 
so near a chance for a longer ride, you know, and Tm 
sure they’ll be glad of that.” 

Three cheers for Mr. Howe ! ” shouted the children. 
“ He knows what we like ! Hurrah ! Hurrah ! Hurrah ! ” 



A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 


71 


Tom grinned till he exposed nearly every white tooth 
in his woolly head, and gathered up the reins for the final 
start. 

“ Marse Howe, he sut’nly know how to please chillum,” 
he said to himself. “ He sure am de boss man for good 
times,” and away went the hay wagon rattling down the 
road, while the children waved their good-bys, and many 
thanks to the kindhearted old man who loved little folks 
so well. 


CHAPTER XIL 


THE RETURN. 



|UNTIE GRACE had been to the gate several 
times to watch for the return of her young 
folks, and was just beginning to wonder why 
they were so long in coming, when she heard the sound 
of wheels at last, and also the music of childish laughter, 
and presently the hay wagon came along. 

“ Oh, we’ve had the be-yewfullest time ! ” shouted Benny, 
leaping from the wagon before it had fairly stopped, and 
Grade’s little tongue began to wag as fast as his, as she 
was put on her feet again, and ran to meet Auntie. 
Sally followed, with an eager question concerning her 
mother. 

‘Ts it all right with mamma. Miss Grey?” she asked 
anxiously; and when she was told that Ann had been 
over there a while ago to see how things were going, 
and had found the invalid mother in good spirits, the 
little girl, much relieved in her mind, was quite as 
ready to chatter away about her good time as were her 
little friends. 

Auntie was told every scrap of news, even to the de- 
tails of the refreshments they had enjoyed, and of the 
little fellow who had tumbled, face down, upon the nest 


A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 


73 


of eggs, and of the tired baby who had gone to sleep 
with kitty in the kitchen chair, and much more that was 
interesting to Auntie, because her little ones were so 
happy in telling it all. 

Then Benny and Sally bade her and Grade good-night, 
and scampered home as fast as their feet could carry 
them. 

“ Poor little Sally ! ” said Auntie, as she looked after 
them and saw how Sally’s hurrying feet were out-speed- 
ing Benny’s, because she was so eager to reach the 
waiting mother again. “ Poor little Sally ! I am glad 
she has had one good long afternoon of a good time. 
She’s a brave and patient little thing, and her mother 
told me that she couldn’t remember when Sally had 
ever given her a moment of sorrow or of disobedience 
in all her young years. That is a fine record, isn’t it, 
dearie?” 

Gracie drew a long breath. “Oh, Auntie, if only my 
mamma could say that ! But I’ve been such a naughty 
girl sometimes! You can’t guess how naughty I do feel 
often and often, and it does seem as though I can’t be 
sorry enough afterward.” 

Auntie drew her small niece close to her heart, and 
kissed the sweet little face. “ We are all more apt to 
do wrong than right, my darling, but God sees down 
into our hearts, and knows when we are sorry, and 
helps us, if we ask Him, you know, Gracie — helps us 
to do better and better as the days go on, so we won’t 
be discouraged, dear little heart. You have been the 


74 A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 

means of giving both Ben and Sally a grand good time 
to-day, and doesn’t that make you happy ? ” 

Gracie laid her head on Auntie s shoulder, and said 
she felt very happy indeed. 

“ Why, what do you think Granny Brown told me 
the other day, after you had gone to find Benny? We 
were speaking of Sally, and I was hoping that nothing 
would hinder her from going to the barn party, and 
Granny said that one day, when she went over to Sally’s 
house on an errand, she heard a little voice coming from 
behind a pile of wood beside the door, and she listened 
a moment, and found that it was little Sally asking God 
to please let her have a real good time some day, and 
now and then besides ; and she promised that she 
would try and be a good girl, and work hard, and never 
get tired of taking care of mamma, if He would only 
send her sometimes a real good time, the same as so 
many other little girls had. Now, think of that, Gracie ! 
Isn’t it sad that Sally should have to long for so much 
that many little people do not at all appreciate, because 
they have so much of it ? ” 

Gracie’s blue eyes were full of tears. “ Oh, I wish I 
could make Sally have lots and lots and lots of good 
times!” she said. 

“ Well, darling, the wish is a kind one, and as you 
grow older you’ll see many a ‘ poor Sally,’ no doubt, 
whom you can help, in one way or another, to be happy, 
as Jesus gives you the opportunity. The thing for you 
to do is to look about you, and be kind and thoughtful, 


A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 


75 


and remember the Golden Rule, which is to do unto 
others as you would have others do to you, you know. 
I think Sally will be a very glad little girl soon, in 
regard to her mother, for I heard to-day that the doctor 
thinks she will be able to leave her bed soon, and, after 
a time, can take short walks. Won’t Sally be glad then ? 
I don’t believe any little maid in the village will be as 
happy as she will be the first time she takes her mother 
out of doors.” 

That cheered Gracie’s sympathetic heart very much, 
and she hoped it would not be very long before she 
and Sally together could take the invalid out to walk. 
Then she undressed Angelina and put her to bed, for 
Gracie never neglected her motherly duties, and she was, 
like all little girlies, devoted to her dolly, you know. 

A day or two later Auntie Grace went to the village to 
make a call on one of her friends. Gracie pleaded to go 
with her, though Auntie hardly thought she would enjoy 
it as well as to stay at home and play with Blackie and 
the barn pets. But the little niece thought otherwise, so 
she was permitted to go. 

She enjoyed the drive greatly ; and when Aunt Grace 
allowed her to hold the reins and actually drive the 
phaeton pony herself, she was more than ever glad she 
had not stayed at home. 

When they reached the village Auntie took the reins 
herself, and drove through a shaded street till she reached 
a house which stood facing an open green field, where 
some school children were playing ball. 


76 A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 

“ Now, which would you rather do,” asked Auntie, “ sit 
out here in the carriage, or go into the house, and 
perch yourself like a little lady on a chair and keep 
quiet as a mouse?” 

“ Oh, I can’t be a mouse ! I’m full of a restless feeb 
ing. Auntie, this very minute, and so — I guess, if you 
don’t mind. I’ll stay out here and watch the children 
play ball.” 

“ Wise little maid ! ” laughed Aunt Grace, and pres- 
ently Grade was alone. 

But before long Auntie came to the door and called 
her. 

“Grade, come here a moment, dear. I’ve told Mrs. 
Smith that you will gladly make yourself useful for a 
time, and play little nurse to her baby.” And as Grade 
ran to the piazza steps, wondering what her aunt meant, 
Mrs. Smith came out of the door with her pretty baby 
in her arms, and pushing a light baby carriage before 
her. 

“This is Mrs. Smith, Gracie,” said Auntie; “and, Mrs. 
Smith, this is my dear little niece and comfort, Gracie.” 

“How do you do, my dear?” said the lady, holding 
out her hand, into which Gracie shyly put her own lit- 
tle hand. “Your Auntie says you will enjoy keeping 
baby out here in the sunshine while she and I are hav- 
ing a good chance to talk, and it will be doing me a real 
favor, for baby’s nurse is away sick, and I have been 
taking care of her and trying to attend to my other 
duties at the same time ; and she is feeling a little fretful 


A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 77 

to-day. But I really do not like to trouble you, and 
you must blame Auntie for this.” 

“ I shan’t blame Auntie ! ” said Gracie eagerly, holding 
out her arms to baby. “ I shall just thank and thank 
her for asking you to let me do this. Oh, I do love 
babies ! I love my dolly, but real babies are so dear 
and sweet ! ” 

She stooped over the baby, who was by now seated 
in the little carriage, and strapped in safely, and kissed 
and petted it; and with great glee, and a feeling of dig- 
nified importance, the little girl wheeled her charge 
across the road, and up and down over the soft grass 
of the meadow opposite. 

Baby was as good as a kitten, and crowed and laughed, 
and clapped her wee hands with joy, while the little nurse 
played with her merrily. 

By and by Gracie decided to stand still and watch the 
ball game. “ You’d like that, wouldn’t you, baby ? ” she 
said ; “ for one of these days yotill be a big girl, and can 
throw a ball just as those girls and boys do.” 

She was careful not to stand where there was danger 
of the ball’s coming their way, and soon found a safe 
position beside a huge sunflower bush, which attracted 
baby’s bright eyes by its gaudy yellow bloom. 

Auntie made a long call on her friend, and if Gracie 
had been alone in the phaeton all that time no doubt 
she would have grown weary and restless. But her 
pleasant position as little nurse was so enjoyable to her 
that she wondered “why Auntie had made such a wee 


78 A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 

little short call,” when at last she heard her own name 
called and saw Auntie beckoning to her with a smile. 

She said good-by to baby quite reluctantly, and the 
baby’s mother made her feel very happy by saying, 
“Good-by, dear helpful child! You have done me a 
great service, and made baby so good and so glad that 
I’m sure she will give no trouble, or be fretful, for the 
rest of the day. Thank you many times, dearie ! ” 

And those pleasant words nestled deep down in Gracie’s 
heart, all the way back to the dear little cottage where 
Ann and supper were waiting. 



Wheeling the baby while Auntie made her call on baby’s mamma. Page 77. 


CHAPTER XIII. 


GRACIES GIFTS. 



IRACIE’S merry little visit to Auntie was about 
to end at last. She had had such a good time, 
and such a free, romping season of out-door life 
amid the sunbeams and the sweet breezes, and with the 
companionship of Benny, and now and then little busy 
Sally, that she felt very sorry to leave them all, and espe- 
cially sorry to part with the “ dearest Auntie Grace in 
the world.” She had tried to be the very “bestest ” lit- 
tle visitor that ever an auntie could have, and she had 
made herself so very dear to all members of Auntie’s 
household that even Blackie the cat seemed sorrowful, 
and seeing the little trunk being packed, kept rubbing 
about it, and pushing up against Gracie’s plump legs, and 
did an unusual amount of purring. 

Gracie had been up to bid Granny good-by, and had 
said good-by to Sally, and to Sally’s mother, who seemed 
really to be getting stronger every day, and had actually 
been out in the sunshine once or twice, with Granny’s 
and Sally’s help. That made Gracie very glad, you may 
be sure, and she promised Sally that she would try and 
come up the next summer for another visit with her 
Auntie, and they would all have good times again. 


A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 


81 


Of course, Gracie was so glad that she would soon see 
her own dear Mamma again, that it took away a little 
of the grief of parting with Auntie and her friends, and 
so her face wasn’t quite so doleful as Benny’s was when 
he came to see her the morning of her “ last whole day,” 
as she called it, with Auntie. He looked as if he could 
have cried, if he had been a girl ; but, being a boy, he 
would only look doleful and keep saying “ he wished she 
wouldn’t go ! he wished and wished and wished she 
wouldn’t ever go ! ” 

But Auntie invited him to come the next morning, 
bright and early, and drive with Gracie and herself down 
to the railroad station, and say good-by again as the 
train left, and then Gracie could wave her handkerchief 
to him, and he and Auntie could keep each other com- 
pany on the way home again. 

That invitation cheered him some, and he went away 
in a less doleful mood. 

After he had gone. Auntie and Gracie were talking 
things over, and speaking of Sally and how many lonely 
times she had, and the fact that she had once confessed 
that she hadn’t any playthings, and had never even owned 
such a thing as a doll, and Gracie said she wished she 
could do something for Sally that would make the poor 
little girl as glad as glad could be. 

Auntie thought a moment; then she said: “/know what 
would make Sally the very happiest girl in the village, I 
think. It is something you could give her easily, if you 
felt that you could do so without grudging the gift.” 


82 A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 

“ Why, Auntie,” replied Gracie, “ I’d give her the beau- 
tifulest thing that ever was, if I only had my toys here 
that I’ve got at home. But you see I haven’t a single 
thing here to give her.” 

“ Oh, but the thing I mean is better than a mere toy ! ” 
said Auntie. “ It is something you like so well that — 
oh, I’m afraid you won’t be willing to spare it!” 

“ Do you mean my big, bouncing ball that you bought 
me. Auntie ? The lovely one that is as big as my head ? 
Oh, you don’t want me to give away your present, do 
you ? ” 

“ No, dear, I didn’t mean that; though I would be will- 
ing, certainly, for you to give that away if you knew you 
would make any poor little person happier for it. I 
meant something far more precious to you than that 
ball.” 

Gracie looked puzzled, and tried to think what Auntie 
could mean, and then suddenly she saw Miss Angelina 
sitting in a chair near by, smiling and staring, and dressed 
in her fine traveling suit, all ready for the next day’s 
journey. 

The color flew quickly into Gracie’s little face. 

“ Oh, Auntie! Auntie Grace ! You don’t mean Ange- 
lina ? My lovely dolly ! Oh, you dont mean Angelina ? 
I never, never, never can part with her. Why, Auntie 
Grace Grey! how could I part with my dear dolly? 
You gave her to me so long ago, and she’s my favor- 
itest child, and — oh, I really can’t do it ! I can’t ! ” 

“ I didn’t say you could, darling ; I only said it would 


A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 


83 


make Sally happy if you gave her something, and I did 
mean Angelina, Til acknowledge. Sally never has owned 
a doll, and she has admired yours, and I know has 
longed to take it in her little motherly arms every time 
she has seen you with it. But of course you need not 
give dolly away unless you really want to, and Sally 
can get along as she has always, before she ever saw 
Angelina.” 

But don’t you suppose wise Auntie knew what she 
was about ? Of course she did ; and she wanted her 
little niece to be unselfish and generous in small as 
well as large things, and she knew that Gracie, though 
she loved Angelina best of all, had several other dollies 
at home, and would not, therefore, suffer any great loss. 

Gracie was quite silent for a time, but afterward she 
rocked Angelina to sleep and laid her on her own lit- 
tle bed upstairs, and then went out into the garden all 
by herself and walked slowly down the path, thinking 
the matter over. Up and down she walked, her little 
face sober as her thoughts were, and nobody near her 
save the bees and butterflies, and the birdies over her 
golden head. 

I can’t take time to tell you all her thoughts; but so 
many kind ones popped, one after the other, into her 
head, that before long she ran back to the house, and 
up to her little room, and without stopping to do any 
more thinking, for fear she might change her mind, she 
woke Miss Angelina up, and dressed her in her best suit, 
and hugged and kissed her a few times, and wiped some 


84 


A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 



bright tear-drops from her own lashes, and then, with a 
pencil she found on Auntie s table, and a piece of paper 
that she took from the scrap basket, Gracie prepared a 

little note to Sally, 
which she tucked 
in Angelina’s 
pocket. Of course 
the note was writ- 
ten in a very strag- 
gly style, and the 
spelling was pecu- 
liar, — according to 
the kind you might 
expect from a mid- 
get of Gracie’s age ; 
— but this is what 
she wrote, after 
much effort, but 
with sincere will- 
ingness ; and I 
won’t attempt to 
copy the spelling 
or the writing : 


“ Dear Little 
Sally : — This is 
my dearest dolly, 
and I love her most to pieces. But Jesus says to my 
heart that you need Angelina more than I do, so I’m 


“ Gracie walked slowly down the path, thinking the 
matter over.” Page 83. 


A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 85 

I 

giving her to you, and I hope you’ll have good times 
with her. I’m going to put this in her pocket, so you’ll 
be sure and find it. Good-by. 

“Gracie Moore.” 

Now, wasn’t that a kind message to go with the gift 
to make Sally happy? 

Then Gracie nearly fell downstairs in her haste to put 
her doll in Auntie’s hands before she — Gracie — might 
want to change her mind ; for, you see, she was making 
quite a sacrifice. 

Brave Gracie ! She saw Auntie wrap her treasure in 
soft paper and put it carefully in a box, and then she 
was taken close and snug in Auntie’s arms and kissed, 
and she wondered what made her feel a tear on her 
forehead, when she wasn’t crying at all, just now. Oh, 
no ! she had given dolly up as cheerfully as she could, 
and she had felt sure in her heart that Jesus was pleased 
with her for doing so ; and somehow that thought — and 
the feeling that Sally was going to be “ so s’prised and 
glad ” — made her feel as though she would rather laugh 
than cry. So I think the little tear-drop on her fore- 
head must have fallen from Auntie Grade’s eyes when 
she was hugging the little niece so tightly. For, you 
see, that tender-hearted Auntie knew perfectly well what 
a sacrifice Gracie had made, and her own heart was 
very much touched by it. But she wanted her little 
niece to feel the pleasure that a true and generous sac- 
rifice always leaves behind in one’s heart, and to learn 


A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 


the truth of the sentence, “ It is more blessed to give 
than to receive." That is why this wise Auntie did 
not — as she might so easily have done — buy a doll for 
Sally, and let Grade keep Angelina. 

Well, now that Grade had tasted the pleasure of self- 
sacrifice, and of ungrudgingly giving, she felt like going- 
on with it, and so she presently said to Auntie : 

“ I think Benny ought to have something. Auntie, that 
will make him happy, and I’m going to give him my 
big ball, ’cause you said you wouldn’t care if I gave it 
to make somebody glad, you know. Don’t you think 
I’d better let him have it. Auntie, dearie?’’ 

“ Well, now, darling, I can’t think of anything that 
would please Benny boy better than to be the owner 
of that ball. How glad I am that you thought of it, 
dear ! ’’ 

“Yes; and you know. Auntie, how he liked to play 
with it the other day in the meadow, and said it was 
big enough to be a real football for boys. Oh, I’m sure 
he'll be glad ! ’’ 

So off ran Grade, all in a glow of zeal for Benny’s 
pleasure, and presently the gay-colored ball — it was 
really a very handsome one, painted to resemble all the 
colors of the rainbow, and quite an artistic affair, I can 
assure you — was in Auntie’s hands and being wrapped 
carefully in tissue paper, to be placed beside the gift for 
Sally till the grand presentation day. 

Gracie felt so happy, and it was such an unusual sort of 
happiness, too, that she almost forgot to grieve over the 


A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 


87 


fact that she and her “ dearest Auntie in all the world ” 
were to be so soon separated. 

But you see, my little reader, it is always so when we 
once learn the happiness of sharing pleasure with others, 
and going without ourselves, in order to give to those who 
are less fortunate than we are. Because the pleasure 
we give returns with double force to our own hearts, and 
in the joy of others we find our own joy increased. If 
you aren’t quite sure that I am right about that, you just 
try it yourself at the first opportunity you have, and see 
if you don’t feel like doing it right over again upon the 
very next chance. 

Well, after supper, when the beautiful day was fading 
softly into shadowland, and the distant hills were begin- 
ning to look hazy and purple, and the birds in the tree- 
tops were twittering and crooning themselves to sleep, 
our little Grade and Auntie had a last walk up and 
down the garden path, while they talked lovingly 
together, and Grade told her how happy she had been, 
and how much better she felt in her heart than before 
she left home ; for, she said at last, “ I s’pose I used to 
be selfish ’cause I didn’t think much. But I’ll try never 
to be so again.” 


CHAPTER XIV. 

“ GOOD-BY ! GOOD-BY ! ” 

ARLY the next morning Gracie went out to the 
yard to take leave of her pets. She patted old 
Dobbin on his fat sides, and on his nose, which 
she could not have reached if he had not put his big 
head close down to her to show his affection. 

She kissed old mooly cow’s soft white nose, and 
rubbed her between the horns, as the gentle cow came 
to the meadow fence and put her head as far over it as 
possible, so that Gracie could reach her. 

Then there were Blackie the cat, old Whitey the 
motherly hen, and her fluffy new babies, to say nothing 
of the yellow babies half grown up. 

And there was also Fido, who had scampered ahead 
of his master, wagging his tail and barking, either for 
joy or sorrow, nobody could tell just which, as he rushed 
to meet his little girl friend. He had, of course, to have 
his full share of caresses and farewell hugs, and then 
she wanted to throw some crumbs to the pigeons and 
the friendly birdies, which were no more afraid of Gracie 
than if she had been a pigeon or a birdie herself 

By that time along came Benny, with a look in his 
eyes as though he had been wiping away some tears 

88 



LafCi 



A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 


8 ^ 


during the walk through the lane from home. But of 
course he didn’t know that there were any tell-tale traces 
of such doings, and he greeted Grade with a merry 
“ Hello ! ” which — if Gracie had not seen the signs in 
those bright eyes which I have told of — might have 
made her think that after all Benny wasn’t sorry she was 
going away. 

But she pretended she saw nothing unusual, and 
echoed his greeting cheerily, and then Auntie called that 
John must put Dobbin in harness and get himself ready 
to drive them to the station. 

So Gracie ran to the kitchen door and bade the nice 
old fat cook good-by, and was nearly smothered in the 
warm embrace she received in return. Ann came to the 
door of the piazza with Gracie’s little jacket and hat, and 
received a good-by also, which she returned as cook had, 
and finally John came along with the carriage. 

Benny sprang in and took the reins, while John put 
the small trunk in front. Gracie got in behind, to sit 
with Auntie, and, last of all. Auntie herself got in, and 
took Gracie’s wee hand tightly in her own, and the lit- 
tle girl, whose throat began to feel lumpy, snuggled 
close up against the dear Auntie, and winked back a 
few tears which kept blurring her eyes so she couldn’t 
see plainly in front of her. 

There was very little talking done, for somehow Benny 
and Gracie didn’t feel so much like “ chatterboxes ” just 
then, and John, of course, had no occasion for remark, 
though he did some thinking, you may believe ; and as 


90 A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 

for Auntie Grace, she, too, was thinking, and somehow 
felt little like talking, for her dearly loved little niece’s 
going away was sure to make the cottage a lonely place 
to return to, after the train stopped at the station and 
sped away again. 

But presently, as the carriage turned a bend in the 
road where a glimpse of a pretty lake was caught, — 
(Grade had been to that lake one day with Sally and 
Benny and Granny, for it wasn’t very far from Sally’s 
house, and the children had enjoyed playing amongst 
the rocks there), — Benny exclaimed : 

“ Oh, Gracie ! I see Sally and her mother standing over 
there by the rocks ! See them ? ” 

Gracie and Auntie looked eagerly across the pond, and, 
sure enough, there they were, Sally and her mother, 
watching the opposite bank, along which they had known 
the carriage must pass on its way to the station. 

The invalid mother had felt strong enough to take the 
short walk with Sally, and watch for the passing by of 
Sally’s little friend ; and though the distance was too far 
for even a shout to be heard distinctly, yet they could 
catch the longed-for glimpse of Gracie, and she could 
see and appreciate the fact of their having gone there 
to see her pass. 

She waved her handkerchief, and, as soon as they saw 
her, Sally waved her hands for good-by, and the mother 
waved her apron. 

Then another turn in the road was reached, and Gracie 
could see them no more. 


II 



iiiiiiiiiii Wi \ 


Sally and her mother were watching. Page 90. 


92 A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 

When the station was reached, there were the good-by 
words, and the checking of the little trunk, and the 
waiting for the train, which Benny secretly hoped had 
broken down on the way. But at last it came puffing 
along, and there was only time for more last dear kisses, 
and more last fond messages, and a hasty glance from 
Auntie to see if Gracie’s ticket were safely pinned inside 
her pocket, and, at the very last, the little kiss which 
Benny dropped on her hand, — not venturing to touch her 
cheek, — before the bell rang, and the train moved out 
from the platform, and left Auntie and Benny waving 
and throwing kisses after it, to the sweet and half- 
frightened face which poked itself out of the car window, 
till a turn in the road hid it entirely. 

Then, without waiting to drive back with Miss Grey, 
lonely little Benny ran as fast as he could back from 
the road into the woods, and there, out of sight of every- 
body, he dropped on the ground, and had a good, boy- 
ish cry, for he loved Grade well, and he knew he should 
miss her more and more every day. 

“She was just like a truly sister,” he sobbed to himself, 
“and — and I never will see any little girl in this place 
half as good and sweet as Grade Moore ! ” 

And in the ears of Auntie Grace, as she was driving 
back to her home, — after having looked for Benny in 
vain, — rang the echoes of a plaintive little voice calling 
from the car window : “ Good-by ! Good-by, dear Auntie 
and dear Benny ! Good-by ! ” 


CHAPTER XV. 

HOME again! 


WO days after Grade had reached home, and had 
delighted Mamma and Papa with the improve- 
ment in her health and strength, there came a 
letter for her from Auntie Grace. 

Gracie kissed the handwriting first, and then sat beside 
mamma to hear it read. 


“ Darling Little Girlie [ran the letter] : You’ve 
no idea how we miss you here, and Auntie actually had 
a little cry when she got back from the station and 
found no Gracie here. Ah, well ! dearie, you were a 
blessed little visitor, and made us all happy, and Mamma 
will be sure to give you a kiss when she reads this. 
[Sure enough. Mamma leaned over, right on the instant, 
and kissed her little girl.] Now, let me tell you [the 
letter went on] how delighted Sally and Benny were 
when I took your gifts to them. Why, Sally could 
hardly believe her eyes, and when she held Angelina in 
her arms she sobbed out these words : ‘ Oh, Miss Grey I 
tell Miss Gracie that I never was so happy in all my 
life, and I shall ask God to bless her forever and ever. 
Oh, my beautiful dolly ! all my very own ! Oh, Miss 

93 


94 A MERRY LITTLE VISIT WITH AUNTIE. 

Grey ! don't you s’pose Jesus is .blessing Miss Gracie 
this very minute for making a poor girl like me so 
glad ? ’ Well, I loved my little niece more than ever, 
for being so generous to Sally, you may be sure. And 
Benny! Why, he opened his eyes as big as a cook’s 
biggest saucers almost, and then he gave the loudest 
kind of ‘ whoopee ! ’ and tossed that ball way up in the 
air for sheer delight. ‘ Now, if I could only toss it up 
to the sky, and show those white cloud-angels the lovely 
thing dear Gracie has given to me. I’d just love to do it, 
Miss Grey,’ said he, and then he wiped his eyes on his 
jacket sleeve and pretended he had dust in them. But 
if it was dust that made them water, then the dust had 
a chamond in it, for I saw it sparkle. So now, you see, 
you have left two happy children to long for you and 
miss you till you come again. Good-by, darling 1 Kiss 
Mamma for me, and tell her to kiss you for your lonely 

“Auntie Grace.” 

With the close of Auntie’s letter I must now close 
my story, and I hope my little readers have enjoyed 
with Gracie her 


Merry Little Visit with Auntie.” 









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